Savannah Standard

The City of Savannah remains under a state of emergency following Hurricane Helene, which began on September 25. This declaration allows the government to activate its Emergency Operations Plan.

Damage assessments have been completed, revealing that 339 structures were affected by the hurricane. Of these, 15 sustained minor damage, 96 had major damage, and eight were destroyed. No city facilities reported damage, although several experienced power outages through Tuesday.

Due to widespread power outages causing significant food spoilage, the Sanitation Department has suspended recycling services until further notice. Residential refuse collection will continue as scheduled this week. Residents can use recycling carts for garbage overflow and place them curbside with regular garbage carts for collection. Spoiled materials can also be taken directly to the Dean Forest Road Landfill convenience center.

Debris removal operations are set to begin this week and are expected to last four to six weeks. Yard waste should be placed in paper bags or 32-gallon cans at regular collection points without blocking roadways or storm drains. Vegetative debris should be placed on the right-of-way and not on streets for collection.

Community centers will reopen on October 1 with regular hours, except for Woodville Center and Windsor Forrest Regional Center due to power outages. Temporary comfort/charging centers will open at Tompkins Regional Center and Grant Center Gymnasium from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., while Daffin Park Pool and various splashpads will operate throughout the week.

Assessments indicate that 13 roads remain impacted by downed trees and power lines. While some traffic signals have been restored, 27 out of 280 city-operated signals are still without power. The city is working with Georgia Power to restore these signals.

The Park and Tree Department continues addressing hazards in the urban forest caused by heavy winds during the storm. There are currently 182 open tree fall requests being processed.

All six city-owned cemeteries remain closed due to ongoing cleanup operations.

For those seeking gasoline availability, residents can refer to tracker.gasbuddy.com. Debris cleanup assistance is available via phone at 1-844-965-1386 or online at www.crisiscleanup.org.

President Biden declared a major disaster in Georgia on Tuesday morning, authorizing federal aid for recovery efforts in Chatham County. Assistance includes FEMA Individual Assistance grants for temporary housing and home repairs, FEMA Public Assistance for governments, and SBA Disaster Loans for uninsured property losses.

As of Tuesday morning, approximately 42,755 power outages remain affecting about 26% of the community. Residents can consult outagemap.georgiapower.com for updates on power restoration efforts by Georgia Power.

Charging stations have been set up at multiple locations around Savannah in partnership with Georgia Power and Clearwave Fiber.

The city's water/sewer operations are functioning normally with no boil water advisory currently in effect for customers receiving water bills from the City of Savannah or properties within city limits where landlords receive such bills.

Residents can stay updated through @cityofsavannah on social media platforms or visit savannahga.gov/stormhelene for more information.