Emergency funds for Hurricane Helene cleanup at Thurmond Lake approved
(WJBF) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) has been approved for Hurricane Helene clean-up at Strom Thurmond Lake.
Since the hurricane hit in September 2024, the Thurmond Project Office used the District's limited 2025 funds to open most of its boat ramps and access points in the two-state.
Currently, 41 of 51 recreation areas are now open or partially open to the public.
Visit list of areas open to the public to learn more.
'A debris removal contract for Corps-operated parks is anticipated to be awarded by early August 2025,' said Tammy Cleveland, J. Strom Thurmond Dam and Lake Operations Project manager. 'Once debris is removed from closed campgrounds and day use areas, we still have a long road ahead of us to repair infrastructure and make the recreation areas safe to reopen to the public.'
The Operations and Maintenance (O&M) service contractor has removed 298 dump truck loads, of debris from West Dam Day Use Area. IN the meantime, the timber salvage contractor removed 13,250 cubic yards of merchantable timber from Ridge Road and Petersburg.
Visit Thurmond Hurricane Helene Recovery to learn find more details about the progress so far
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- Associated Press
Interstate 40 in the Smoky Mountains reopens faster than expected after rock slide and flooding
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