ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Federal, state and local officials gathered in Asheville on Thursday to highlight the ongoing recovery efforts following the recent storm that devastated parts of Western North Carolina.
Major General Jason Kelly, Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, praised the collaborative efforts between agencies and reaffirmed the Corps’ long-term commitment to the region.
“Today, as we witnessed the work that’s underway here, I could not be prouder of the collaboration between local, state and federal entities,” Kelly said during a news briefing at Hominy Creek Park. “We’ve been on the ground since the storm’s landfall, working to help residents return to normal life as quickly and safely as possible.”
Kelly introduced Lee Forsgren, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, who echoed the message of sustained support.
“I was sent by the president down here to make sure the interagency, multi-level government, public-private effort is continuing as it should be,” Forsgren said. “For everything I’ve seen so far, it is a success story. We’ve got a ton still to do, and we are here for the long term. We are going nowhere.”
Col. Brad Morgan, commander of the Wilmington District and lead for the USACE’s emergency response efforts in Western North Carolina, reported that more than 5 million cubic yards of storm debris have been removed so far, including more than 3 million from WNC waterways.
“This is one of the largest debris removal efforts I’ve seen,” Morgan said. “In Asheville alone, the cleanup is extensive, and we’re proud of the progress we’ve made since Feb. 1, when we launched the waterway debris mission.”
Morgan added that the corps is pushing to complete waterway cleanup by June 1 and aims to finish private and commercial property debris removal by the end of June. “We understand the importance of this area for tourism and recreation,” he said. “We’re committed to getting this done before the peak summer season.”
George Mingus, a debris subject matter expert with the corps, put the scope into perspective: “Five million cubic yards — it’s a pretty sizable amount. I think we would fill my Panthers stadium four times over or something along those lines. So, it’s a lot.”
Environmental concerns have also surfaced, particularly regarding potential impacts to endangered species in local waterways. Morgan said the Corps is coordinating with FEMA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state agencies to ensure compliance with environmental guidelines.
“If we can avoid placing equipment in sensitive habitats, we do,” Morgan said. “All of our operations are reviewed under FEMA’s environmental and historical permitting processes, and we continue to monitor and adjust our methods as needed.”
As for the cost, officials said current funding for debris removal totals around $1.6 billion, with requests for additional support ongoing.
“This is a massive operation,” Morgan said. “But we are staying on mission, and we will see it through.”
