Savannah City Officials Announce Reopening Plans Following Hurricane Helene

City of Savannah Reopens After Hurricane Helene

Hey Savannah! We’ve got some news for you as we bounce back from the impacts of Hurricane Helene. The City is getting back to business as usual starting Tuesday, October 1st. That’s right, the administrative offices and facilities will operate during normal hours, although some places are still waiting for the power to come back on. Leadership will decide what to do on a case-by-case basis for those facilities still in the dark. To stay in the loop about what’s happening in our city, be sure to follow @cityofsavannah on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. You can also check out savannahga.gov/stormhelene for the latest updates!

Recycling and Sanitation Services

Now, if you’re wondering about your recycling, the Sanitation Department has hit the pause button on all recycling services starting Monday, September 30. This is because the power outages have caused a lot of food spoilage, and we need to keep things safe and clean. Don’t worry too much though—you can still use your recycling cart for any overflow garbage, just place it with your garbage carts at the curb as usual for collection this week.

Your regular garbage collection will continue as planned, but the City encourages residents to hold onto recyclables until normal collections can get back on track. If you’re itching to recycle right away, you can swing by one of the single-stream drop-off facilities instead!

Now for some good news! The City has secured a contractor to kick off debris removal operations. This will be a big task, as the amount of debris we’re facing is huge, and it will likely take a few weeks to finish. So, if you have containerized (aka bagged) storm debris, make sure to put it out for collection without blocking roads or storm drains. Also, large limbs should be placed separately off the street to help with the process. We’re keeping it organized here so remember to separate your household garbage, containerized yard waste, and larger vegetative debris. All of this makes it easier for the cleanup crew!

Traffic Signals Still in Review

As for our roadways, it’s a bit of a different situation. Monday morning assessments revealed that around 80 roads are still impacted due to downed trees and power lines. Although some traffic signals are back up and running, 53 of the 280 City-operated signals are still without power. Rest assured, the City is working hand in hand with Georgia Power to get those back on. As a reminder, treat any non-operating stoplight as an all-way stop to keep our roads safe while we work through this.

Gas Availability & Cleanup Assistance

Looking for gas? You can use tracker.gasbuddy.com to see where there might be some available. We know how important that is right now! And if you could use a helping hand with cleanup, don’t hesitate to reach out by calling 1-844-965-1386 or register at www.crisiscleanup.org.

Water and Sewer Systems Running Smoothly

And for those concerned about water quality, the City Water Resources Department assures everyone that normal operations are ongoing. If you’re receiving a water bill from the City or your landlord is, there’s no need to worry about a boil water advisory at this time. However, if anything changes, the City will notify you right away. As of now, everything is running smoothly with both the drinking water supply and sewage systems!

So, Savannah, let’s rally together as we work through the aftermath of the storm. Keep being patient, stay alert, and continue supporting one another—better days are just around the corner!