EPA Launches Resource Website for Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts

EPA teams focus on water infrastructure, debris removal and hazardous materials management.

• By Robert Yaniz Jr.
• Oct 06, 2024

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has introduced a new online resource to assist communities recovering from Hurricane Helene. The website will be continuously updated with information on the agency’s ongoing response efforts in the southeastern U.S., particularly in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

“As we work to assist the communities impacted by Hurricane Helene with recovery, this website will be a vital resource for the latest updates on our response efforts,” Acting Region 4 Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle said in a statement. “We are working alongside our federal, state, local and Tribal partners to deliver the support needed to rebuild and recover, and EPA is committed to helping to protect public health and the environment, restore critical water systems, and aid in clean-up operations.”

According to a recent release, EPA activities in response to Hurricane Helene thus far include:

• Damage assessment. EPA is evaluating the impact on drinking water and wastewater systems, ensuring that critical infrastructure is restored promptly.
• Debris removal. EPA teams are assisting in disaster debris management, prioritizing public health and environmental protection.
• Hazardous materials management. Experts are identifying and managing hazardous materials in affected areas to safeguard residents and the environment.

So far, the EPA has deployed landfill strike teams and a mobile drinking water lab to Chiefland, Florida, and stationed personnel in Georgia to support state and local emergency operations centers. In North Carolina, contractors are handling hazardous materials management and helping assess water system damage in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Mobile drinking water labs and emergency generators have also been sent to assist in impacted areas. The EPA is coordinating closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as part of a broader federal response. The public can stay informed through the EPA’s website and social media channels.

For more information, visit the EPA’s Hurricane Helene webpage.