City announces hurricane cleanup plan
City of Florence has announced the plan of action for the next phase of the clean-up of the city from the impact of Hurricane Matthew.
“Our top priority is to ensure that the needs of our residents and businesses are being addressed timely. It is also important for our residents to know what the City can and cannot assist them with. We hope that the next phase of our disaster relief plan will provide clarification and much needed resources to the people of Florence,” stated Drew Griffin, Florence City Manager.
The core role of local government is to operate as a resource for its citizens. While there are many issues that have impacted our residences and our businesses during this natural disaster that we are unable to resolve, our goal is to provide a consistent flow of communication and a central hub for resources.
Residents are encouraged to visit www.cityofflorence.com/ nextphaseflorence.aspx. A video update from Florence City Manager, Drew Griffin with the latest updates will be posted every Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. The update will be on the City website and City social media platforms.
“Hurricane Matthew had a major impact on our City. I am proud of our amazing city staff that has worked around the clock to help our citizens. This next phase will take our communication and our outpouring of information to the next level. In order for our citizens and businesses to rebuild, we must maintain the highest level of communication with the people in Florence,” stated Mayor Stephen Wukela.
Damage in Numbers
Florence County Emergency Management declared damage from Hurricane Matthew at $52,481,667.
59 homes were destroyed
133 had major damage
2,014 suffered minor damage
32 businesses were destroyed
24 had major damage
214 sustained minor damage during the storm
Debris Clean Up
There is over 150,000 cubic yards of storm debris within the city limits. Hurricane related debris is eligible for pickup and disposal by the city if residents place the following types of debris on the public right-of-way in front of their property for pick-up. Residents opting for curbside pick-up must separate debris into six (6) categories:
Vegetative debris (tree limbs, shrubs, etc.)
Construction/demolition debris White goods (appliances, etc.)
E-goods (TV’s, electronics)
Household hazardous (cleaning solutions, automotive chemicals, etc.)
Normal household garbage Next Phase Florence Key Contacts
A team of city staff has been assembled just to address cleanup of storm debris associated with Hurricane Matthew. Here are the key contacts that we want to share with residents:
FEMA regulations, Jerry Dudley This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Questions about Clean-Up Efforts This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Public Works & Utilities Department 843-665-3236
Police non-emergency/after hours Public Works & Utilities Department 843-665-3191
City Administration 843-665-3113
Federal Assistance
Residents can apply for assistance by registering online with FEMA at https://www.fema. gov/disaster/4286, or by calling 1-800-621-3362. Those who are deaf or hard of hearing should call 1-800-462-7585 (TTY), and those who use Video Relay Service can call 1-800-621-3362. Toll free numbers are operating from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. seven days per week until further notice.
