Disaster cleanup is often chaotic and complex. After hurricanes or wildfires, a mix of contractors, government officials, and agencies work to clear debris and restore order. A year after Hurricane Helene tore through southern Appalachia, the cleanup is still underway. While everyone agrees the mess needs to be cleared, there’s plenty of debate about what should be removed, and what might be better untouched.
Hurricane Helene left rivers in western North Carolina filled with debris — trees, trash, even cars and houses. But now, locals are worried the contractors hired by the Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA are clearing out too much. These companies get paid by how much stuff they remove, so there’s an incentive to just clear everything out.
The challenge is balancing speed with environmental care, and environmentalists say poor oversight and a push to clear as much as possible are damaging wetlands. Heavy machinery used after the storm caused more harm to streams in the process. While cleanup was needed, the excessive debris removal could leave lasting environmental impacts.
In some counties like Macon, Polk, and Transylvania, contractors have been accused of removing old wood and live trees without landowner permission. Biologists warn excessive debris removal in rivers can cause unseen damage. Unsupervised cleanup can destroy habitats for aquatic species and remove vital shelter for fish and waterfowl, increasing erosion.
Counties, such as Henderson County, that opted out of federal contracts and chose private contractors experienced fewer environmental issues. This was largely because contractors collaborated with state biologists and were paid by the length of river cleaned, rather than by debris weight. In July, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality awarded $10 million to nonprofit MountainTrue to restore local rivers in the next 18 months. The project focuses on improving water quality and making rivers safer for recreation, with around 100 workers stabilizing riverbanks by planting native tree trimmings — a method proven to reduce flooding, damage, and erosion during storms.
And it’s not just the big funding making a difference — local volunteers are rolling up their sleeves too. For example, along the Green River in Polk County, people paddle through the river in canoes, picking up everything from small debris to buried appliances. Piece by piece, they’re helping to clear the waste, restore the river, and reconnect with the environment they love.
