PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) – Pender County will soon be picking up storm debris left behind from Hurricane Matthew.
“Residents with vegetative debris should leave leaves, branches and tree limbs on the edge of the state right-of-way,” said Tom Collins, Pender County Emergency Manager. “Please do not pile any debris under power lines or in a location that blocks vision of roadways.”
Collins said the debris clean-up is going to take time and he urged residents to be patient.
“Any resident, particularly in the Black River region, who has dead animals on their property, we will serve you first,” said Collins. “This is a health hazard and a priority.”
Residents impacted by flood water in their homes may begin clean-up now. Debris should to be placed in four piles along the edge of the state right-of-way.
“There are four categories of debris,” said Collins. “Vegetative debris includes trees, pine cones, etc. Construction debris includes such items as carpet, shingles, and sheetrock. Appliances should be placed in a separate pile. The fourth pile is hazardous materials which include gasoline and wet shotgun shells, for example.”
Pender County is contracting with Disaster Recovery Construction for debris clean-up. The company is in the process of creating a vegetative debris field on NC Hwy 53. The public will be notified when this drop site is ready.
Contractors are not permitted to enter private property or private roads for debris pick-up. Residents living in private subdivisions with private roadways should take their debris to the connecting edge of the state road right-of-way.
“We want to thank the citizens of Pender County for their patience,” said Collins. “Hurricane Matthew left us with three events to clean up – vegetative debris from the high winds, debris from flooding along the Northeast Cape Fear River and the debris from the Black River Basin.”