Augusta, Ga. – After months of ongoing recovery efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, Augusta city officials say that a great deal of work remains, and with it, significant financial challenges.

Augusta City Administrator Tameka Allen emphasized the complexity of the recovery process, noting that it extends far beyond debris pickup. “We want to make sure that we don’t miss anything in any way of getting our money back for Augusta. Like I said, it doesn’t just stop with the debris pickup. We’re having to look at how do we build back for the future,” Allen said.

The city has contracted Tetra Tech, a disaster recovery firm, to manage the ongoing hurricane response. The Augusta Commission Committee recently approved an initial payment of $500,000 toward the firm’s services, with the total cost expected to be just under $2 million.

“There’s a need for oversight on every dollar spent,” said Commissioner Francine Scott, adding, “We need to make sure whatever we’re spending the money on, we need to make sure we’re getting what we’re paying them for, because this is not free.”

Concerns about the financial impact are also being raised by other city officials, including Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice, who expressed frustration over the escalating costs. “I’ve already gotten complaints before this about what we are going to have to pay for the remainder of the pickup,” Rice noted.

While the city has been diligently working on recovery efforts, a key deadline passed earlier this month: the deadline for 100 percent reimbursement from FEMA for debris removal. Going forward, FEMA will only cover 75 percent of the costs.

Despite these challenges, Allen assured that while Augusta is paying the upfront costs, consultant fees for the recovery efforts will be reimbursed in full. “So, this is all will be reimbursable. This is a separate cost as opposed to the debris at the 75 percent,” Allen explained.

The contract with Tetra Tech is set for up to three years, highlighting the long-term nature of the recovery process. While the storm struck quickly and its immediate aftermath was intense, Augusta’s road to full recovery is expected to take considerable time.

As the city moves forward, officials remain focused on both managing expenses and ensuring that every dollar spent contributes to long-term resilience and rebuilding for the future.