Deadline Set For Storm Debris Placement In City
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WATER VALLEY — City officials are asking residents to have all storm debris placed at the road rights-of-way no later than Monday, April 6, as Water Valley prepares for the final phase of debris removal following Winter Storm Fern.
Mayor Tommy Reynolds said the city is nearing completion of its first pass of debris pickup and will soon begin a second and final pass.
“By April 6, hopefully everyone has had one pass, and we are going to do another pass,” Reynolds said.
He also noted that the second pass is expected to move more quickly than the first.
“It won’t take the length of time to do the second pass as it did the first pass,” he said.
The cleanup effort is being handled by contractor Looks Great Services of MS, along with assistance from city crews.
Mike King with Looks Great Services of MS told aldermen the city is making steady progress, with most major areas already cleared and a few remaining sections still to be completed.
Reynolds said that an estimated 40,000 cubic yards of debris will be collected by the end of this week.
In addition to debris removal, crews have addressed hazardous trees and limbs across the city.
“We’ve had 2,316 trees that had to be totally removed or the leaners cut off them,” Reynolds said. “Hangers — that is a whole lot for this city.”
The city is utilizing brush trucks to assist with the cleanup, especially in areas that are not easily accessed by the larger trucks used by the contractor.
“They really help because the city brush trucks are not as big as the Looks Great trucks and can get into tight locations,” he said.
Reynolds said cooperation from residents has also played a key role in the cleanup effort.
“Most of the folks have been very cooperative, and many people have helped their neighbors who are not as fortunate either physically or financially,” he said.
The cleanup effort is expected to cost around $1 million. FEMA is expected to cover 75 percent of eligible costs, with the remaining 25 percent split between the state and the city. Some of the city’s portion can be offset through in-kind contributions, including volunteer work, equipment use and donated support following the crippling winter storm.
