Hurricane Helene Debris Removal: What You Need to Know

From McDowell County Emergency Management

Debris removal operations are underway in McDowell County, with AshBritt and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers leading efforts to clear storm debris efficiently and safely.  This is a free program, and begins with primary roads, then moves to secondary roads.  If you are unsure of your road designation, click here to view a map of all NCDOT maintained roadways. 

Resident Instructions: Residents should place storm debris within 10 feet of the right-of-way on any primary or secondary road. Be sure to separate debris by type: vegetative, construction materials, appliances, electronics, and hazardous waste. Please note that bagged household trash will not be picked up by debris removal crews; all bagged trash will continue to be collected through regular routes or should be taken to the landfill.  Thank you for helping our crews work efficiently and safely as we restore our community.  

For more information, residents can contact the Helene Hotline at 828-652-3241.

MCDOWELL COUNTY DEBRIS FAQ

How do I contact USACE to pick up my debris?

There is no need to contact anyone to receive this service. Just sort your debris by type and place within 10 feet of the right of way. Debris teams will conduct pickup community-by-community throughout the entire county.

When will USACE be in my area picking up debris?

Updates on scheduling and timing will be communicated through McDowell County Emergency Management social media channels and traditional media (newspaper and radio).  You can view the latest EOC updates on our site here.

Where should I take my debris?

Residents should not take debris anywhere. The county has hired a contractor to handle the collection of residential debris. Simply sort the debris and move to the right of way.

Are there any size requirement for vegetative debris?

No, there are no size requirements for vegetative storm debris. No additional processing is needed for size reduction. Just make sure to place at the DOT right-of-way and USACE will collect debris.

What about mud/soil?

Mud/soil should be pushed or piled on the roadsides for future collection.

USACE came to my community, but they haven’t collected my debris, why?

The first phase of the clean-up process includes a USACE debris refinement team, these teams will arrive prior to pick-up to ensure each home has their disaster related debris properly sorted. Even after pick-up has begun, there may be multiple teams that collect debris from your ROW over multiple days. To make the process quick and efficient there will be separate trucks for each category of eligible debris. These trucks may arrive at different times in the clean-up process.