For island communities like Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island, having a reliable debris site after a storm like Hurricane Ian is a must. Mayor John Gregg gave an update at the Seabrook Island Town Council meeting on Sept. 27 about how the debris site that the towns of both Kiawah and Seabrook have in common was not approved following inspection by SCDHEC.
As the town awaited approval for a debris site in common with Kiawah Island, the final approval for the Town’s Equestrian Center as a debris site was held back pending resolution of a site that the two towns would have in common. Once SCDHEC denied a common debris site for Kiawah and Seabrook, the Town of Seabrook moved to assure that they could use the equestrian center as a debris site. Seabrook received final approval to use the equestrian center and they withdrew their application to use a common debris site with Kiawah at this time.
The Equestrian Center is not a permanent solution to the town’s debris site issue, however. “Efforts will be undertaken to either resolve the disposition with SCDHEC to use a site that the towns have in common or to identify an alternative site that we or both towns could use,” Gregg explained. Gregg went on to say that he has been in ongoing discussion with the SCDHEC and that in October, there will be a discussion on behalf of SCDHEC concerning the site that the towns have in common, but as of right now, Seabrook has withdrawn their application from a shared debris site. Gregg assured, however, that both Seabrook and Kiawah are looking for ways for both to use a debris site together in the future. As for homeowners on Kiawah and Seabrook Island, Charleston County provides helpful information on their website.
They ask that homeowners separate debris into five categories: yard debris, building debris, bulky metals, household garbage and household hazardous materials. They also ask that homeowners do not block roadways, fire hydrants, storm water drains and utility boxes as they clear debris from their property. Dumpsters on residential sites or empty lots are not to be used for debris. Contractors are not included in debris pickup. Depending on the severity of the damage, property owners may be assessed additional cost for cleanup after a major storm.
For questions about disposing debris, call 843-768-0061 or visit sipoa.org.