Since the afternoon and evening of Tuesday, April 5, the Public Works, Parks & Beautification, and Fire Department have worked closely together to clear the roads by cutting trees across the road, moving piles of debris, and more. Collection of the debris that has been cut up and moved to the side of the road - as well as piles placed there by residents from their yards - will begin Tuesday, April 12 by the Public Works Department and Georgia Department of Transportation.

“Our initial goal was to get the roads passable so Georgia Power could more quickly restore power and the Sherriff’s Office and Fire Department could respond to emergencies,” says Public Works Director Tim Wilder. “Now we can redirect our crews and equipment to getting it all picked up."

The first focus will be in the neighborhoods around Rosa Taylor Elementary that were hit the hardest. If you have debris on your property, make sure it is moved to the side of the road and trees and limbs are cut into sections four feet or shorter. To report piles of debris that resulted from the storm, call Public Works at 478-803-0490 and let them know your address.

“Our crews did an amazing job getting the roads cleared as quickly as they did, working well past midnight and starting before the sun rose,” says Mayor Lester Miller. “Even while they were cleaning up the roads, they were planning how to best get the debris collected. While I expect this will be quick, we know people won’t be happy until it’s all cleaned up.”

Mayor Lester Miller declared a local State of Emergency for the County, which opened the door for the Emergency Management Agency to request resources and personnel support from the State of Georgia. Beginning Thursday, a chainsaw crew from the Georgia Forestry Commission began helping Public Works and Georgia Power crews. The Georgia DOT will help with debris collection.