County staff provided updates to Bulloch County Commissioners Monday night, less than a week after Tropical Storm Debby blew through the county.
Randy Tillman, Director of Public Safety
Tillman addressed commissioners on the impacts of Tropical Storm Debby and how the county is recovering. He also thanked everyone for their united efforts in the immediate aftermath.
Director of Emergency Management Corey Kemp reported the work of public works and first responders:
- 6 compromised dams
- 11 swift water rescues rescuing 80+ citizens (from homes & cars)
- 144 EMS response calls
- 166 fire response calls
- 2,231 calls were fielded by 911
- 159 homes evaluated for damage to date
- 50+ homes will declared ‘substantially damaged homes’
County Engineer Brad Deal said 3 paved roads had drainage pipes washed away like on Nevils Denmark Road.
Bridges that remain closed:
- Arcola Road at Lower Black Creek
- Akins Pond Road Bridge
- Deloach Church Road bridge (near Evans County)
- Sinkhole Road near I-16 (expected to open Tuesday 8/13)
Asst Public Works Director said daily cleanouts have been happening at collection centers around the county. He encouraged citizens to bring their trash and waste to centers if trash pickup has ceased at their homes.
Dink Butler, Director of Public Works:
78 trees were reported down in the height of storm from wind and rain (less than $100k as impact was minimal)
- 574 paved roads on county roster
- 91 road closures at peak
- only 8 still remain closed
- 4 paved road failures – contract response will facilitate repair as county road department cannot handle in house
- 524 dirt roads on roster
- 172 have been made passable at this time
- 21 are still closed
- some remote, low traffic roads may still be closed. County plans to evaluate those Tuesday-Friday
- 1000 tons of #4 rock (100 left as of Sunday 8/11)
- 300 tons of GAB
- Status is still ‘triaging’ roads and access
- Butler said county staff is not confident giving school buses the OK to begin travel on dirt roads
Going Forward
- Public Works, Butler said, has 14 open positions. To get roads to pre-storm conditions, it will take the public works department a year or more.
- Once roads are in a passable condition, they will need to establish roadbeds back to pre-storm conditions.
- County plans to regrade and re-establish contours, while operating within the the FY 2025 budget, but the county is not optimistic about receiving FEMA funds.
- Some GEMA funds may be available but will be shared with other impacted counties
- Butler asked for emergency funding from the county to seek outside assistance so road repairs can be made in a timely manner.
- Do not expect the projects to exceed $5 million
- Butler asked commissioners for $5 million in emergency funding, which will allow the work to be done within 90 to 120 days (weather permitting) as opposed to ‘a year or more.’
- Butler said a year is too long for citizens to wait for their roads to be repaired to a safe level.
Butler also thanked the Governor for visiting the area and the Georgia National Guard, who helped in the reopening of 70+ roads in the days after Debby.
“Public Works motto is “First in, last out” and it’s obvious we are still there when others have left,” Butler said.
County Manager Tom Couch echoed Butler’s request, saying 75% of the $5 million would be allocated from TSPLOST in the activation of the Rapid Response Plan and that the emergency declaration should be extended for 120 days to assist in allocating funding for the Rapid Response Plan implementation.
Commissioner Toby Conner said it was imperative that the roads get reopened with harvest season coming.
The motion for the funds was approved unanimously.
