Tropical Storm Helene generated large amounts storm debris within Asheville’s city limits. The City of Asheville activated state contracts to engage a debris contractor and a debris monitoring firm to begin clearing storm debris from public rights-of-way (ROW). This initial effort prioritized critical infrastructure and roadways, ensuring accessibility and public safety. The City’s contracted firm began ROW debris removal on October 10, 2024, collecting 19,409 cubic yards of debris in the first 17 days of operations.
Recognizing the scale and complexity of debris removal required, the City partnered with Hagerty Consulting, LLC to assess the full scope of the operation. It was determined that the most effective path forward would be to transition management to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) under Direct Federal Assistance (DFA).
Efforts are now focused on the following areas:
- ROW debris removal (State, City, and private roads – Vegetative & C&D)
- Private and commercial property debris removal (PPDR & CPDR)
- Waterway debris cleanup
- Public facilities and parks debris removal
- Vehicles and vessels recovery
City staff continue to prioritize debris removal requests from residents and businesses where storm debris is impeding emergency access or posing safety concerns. If you feel your storm debris poses a safety concern please email sanitation@ashevillenc.gov.
The City of Asheville is committed to providing transparent and consistent information to residents about storm debris removal efforts. The Asheville Recovers engagement hub serves as a centralized resource for residents to access detailed information, reflecting the City’s dedication to keeping the community informed and involved throughout the recovery process.
Happening Now
Cleanup efforts following Tropical Storm Helene continue to move forward across Asheville. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has completed their storm debris removal operations in the right-of-way (ROW) and city-owned parks. USACE is still actively conducting debris removal in waterways and through the Private Property Debris Removal (PPDR) program. Due to the complexity of these operations, this work is expected to continue through Summer 2025.
The City is grateful for the strong collaboration with USACE, whose teams swiftly addressed and removed storm debris that posed an immediate threat to public safety. With their mission now complete, the City will continue recovery efforts in partnership with state contractors and support a full cleanup of City parks and City property. At this time state contractors are focusing work in the following areas:
- Richmond Hill Park, work began on June 26, 2025;
- Reed Creek Greenway, work expected to start in July 2025;
- And Riverside Cemetery, work expected to start by the end of summer.
City of Asheville Sanitation staff will collect remaining storm debris that was placed in the ROW by March 1, 2025, excluding stumps which will be addressed by a contractor.