100724 Council Mtg Mins Adopted
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MINUTES OF OCTOBER 7, 2024
Briton S. Williams, Mayor
Jenafer F. McCauley, Councilmember – Mayor Pro Tem
David B. Buck, Councilmember
Pat C. Carpenter, Councilmember
David W. McGhee, Councilmember
Eric H. Presnell, Councilmember
Kevin W. Toole, Councilmember
REGULAR MEETING
The Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of North Augusta of October 7, 2024 having been duly
publicized was called to order by Mayor Williams at 6:00pm and also streamed online for public viewing
at “City of North Augusta – Public Information” on www.Facebook.com and on the “City of North Augusta
Public Information” on www.YouTube.com. Per Section 30-4-80, (e) notice of the meeting by email was
sent out to the current maintained “Agenda Mailout” list consisting of news media outlets and individuals
or companies requesting notification. Notice of the meeting was also posted on the outside doors of the
Municipal Center, the main bulletin board of the Municipal Center located on the first floor, and the City
of North Augusta website.
Mayor Williams rendered the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Members present were Mayor Williams, Councilmembers Buck, McCauley, McGhee, Presnell, and Toole.
Member absent was Councilmember Carpenter.
Also in attendance were James S. Clifford, City Administrator; J.D. McCauley, Assistant Administrator; Kelly
F. Zier, City Attorney; Thomas C. Zeaser, Director of Engineering and Public Works; Captain Kevin Hayes,
Public Safety; Tommy Paradise, Director of Planning & Development; James Sutton, Director of Public
Services; Jeremy Jiunnies, Supervisor of Parks & Recreation, Karl Waldhauer, Manager of Tourism; Lynda
Williamson, Director of Finance; Jamie Paul, City Clerk; and Ricky Jones, Manager of Information
Technology.
City of North Augusta
Hurricane Helene
Recovery Update
(Day 11)
7 October 2024
ATTACHMENT #5 Page 1 of 21
Hurricane Helene Forecast 26 September
(National Weather Service)
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Hurricane Helene Actual
(National Weather Service)
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•Almost 100% power loss before dawn, to include all city facilities (city hall, public
safety HQ, all fire stations, water & wastewater infrastructure nodes)
•Multiple mission essential employees unable to respond due to being trapped in their
homes or neighborhoods
•Fiber internet, cell phone service, emergency radio communications impacted or non-
existent. 9/11 service interrupted and switched to Aiken County Sheriff’s Dispatch
•Damage to City facilities and vehicles, to include significant roof damage at Fire
Station 2
•Local governments in the CSRA equally impacted
•No reported loss of life due to storm effects
Immediate Effects
Friday, 27 September
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LOE 1 Critical Infrastructure / Basic Human Needs
•Water System power restoration
•Waste Water power restoration
•Sanitation
•Assist Dominion & AEC with power restoration
•Coordinate Food/Water/Shelter/Medical assistance
LOE 2 Open road networks / route clearance
•Provide road access (one lane) to every residence in the city for emergency vehicle access
•Improve road access to two –four lanes as able
LOE 3 Public Safety / Maintain Law & Order
•Firefighter responses to trapped neighborhoods
•Transition to police functions to deal with civil disorder
•Assist power crews with lane closures
LOE 4 Communicate
•Demand signal to County, State, Federal, Utilities, and Non-Governmental Organizations
•Establish communications with critical command nodes across government (establish EOC)
•Conduct Key Leader engagements (KLEs) –with strategic intent and specific asks
•Establish communications channel with Citizens (City of North Augusta –Public Information Page)
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LOE 5 Debris Removal
City Lines of Effort (LOEs)ATTACHMENT #5 Page 5 of 21
LOE 1 Critical Infrastructure / Basic Human Needs
•Water System power restoration
•Waste Water power restoration
•Sanitation (Routes started on a limited basis on 30 September)
•Assist Dominion & AEC with power restoration (chain saw teams & Riverview Park Activities Center)
•Coordinate Food/Water/Shelter/Medical assistance
LOE 1 Critical Infrastructure /Basic Human NeedsATTACHMENT #5 Page 6 of 21
LOE 1 Critical Infrastructure /Basic Human Needs
Willow Wick
Lift Station
Butlers Mill
Lift Station
Municipal Center
(EOC) 9/30 -Present
Water Production
Facility
Clay Street
Pump Station
Public Safety 911
Powerhouse Pump Station
Rapids Lift Station
Fire Station 1
(EOC) 9/27-9/30
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Establishment of Point of Distribution / Community Aid Station / Charging Station
LOE 1 Critical Infrastructure /Basic Human NeedsATTACHMENT #5 Page 8 of 21
LOE 2 Open road networks / route clearance
•Provide road access (one lane) to every residence in the city for emergency vehicle access
•City Crews, SC National Guard, State Guard
•Improve road access to two –four lanes as able
LOE 2 Open road networks / route clearanceATTACHMENT #5 Page 9 of 21
LOE 3 Public Safety / Maintain Law & Order
•Firefighter responses to trapped neighborhoods
•Transition to police functions to deal with civil disorder
•Looting concerns –one night three commercial break-ins or attempts
•Gas Station disturbances
•Icehouse disturbances
•Provide security at grocery stores as needed
•Provide presence patrols in un-lit neighborhoods to include Belvedere
•Assist power crews with lane closures
•Multiple lane and/or road closures at same time as routine law enforcement
LOE 3 Public Safety / Maintain Law & OrderATTACHMENT #5 Page 10 of 21
LOE 4 Communicate
•Demand signal to County, State, Federal, Utilities, and Non-Governmental Organizations
•Establish communications with critical command nodes across government (establish EOC)
•Conduct Key Leader engagements (KLEs) –with strategic intent and specific asks
•Establish communications channel with Citizens (City of North Augusta –Public Information Page)
LOE 4 CommunicateATTACHMENT #5 Page 11 of 21
LOE 4 CommunicateATTACHMENT #5 Page 12 of 21
Key Leader Engagements (KLEs)
North Augusta Visits
SCDOT Chief of Staff Allen Hutto
South Carolina Deputy Adjutant General, Major General Jones
W. Keller Kissam, President –Dominion Energy South Carolina
South Carolina Guard senior officers (multiple)
Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette
Local Engagement
Senator Lindsay Graham (Aiken)
Governor Henry McMaster (Edgefield & Aiken)
Telephonic
Fort Eisenhower Commanding General –Major General Ryan Janovic
Aiken Electric Cooperative, Inc. Gary L. Stooksbury, Chief Executive Officer
LOE 4 CommunicateATTACHMENT #5 Page 13 of 21
LOE 5 Debris Removal
•State Roads –SCDOT Contract
•City Roads –Aiken County Contract option
•City Property –City crews
•Resident debris self-removal options
•Belvedere
•C&D Landfill
LOE 5 Debris RemovalATTACHMENT #5 Page 14 of 21
Military
South Carolina Army National Guard
South Carolina State Guard
State Agencies
South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT)
South Carolina Forestry Commission
Law Enforcement/Fire Service
Aiken County Sheriff’s Office (911 support)
State Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED)
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
South Carolina Department of Corrections Inspector General
State Transport Police
South Carolina Highway Patrol
South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services
Belvedere Volunteer Fire Service
Merriwether Fire
Partner Organizations
Utilities
Dominion Energy
Aiken Electric Cooperative
AT&T
Relief Agencies
Salvation Army
Red Cross
Acacia Lodge No. 315
Churches
State Delegation
Rep Bill Hixon
Sen Tom Young
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City Task Organization for Purpose
LOE 1 Critical Infrastructure / Basic Human Needs
•Public Safety
•Public Works
•Public Services
•Tourism
•Parks & Rec
•Finance
•HR
LOE 2 Open road networks / route clearance
•Public Safety
•Public Works
•Public Services
•P&D
LOE 3 Public Safety / Maintain Law & Order
•Public Safety
LOE 4 Communicate
•Tourism
•P&D
•Finance
•IT
•HR
LOE 5 Debris Removal
•Public Works
•Public Services
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City StaffATTACHMENT #5 Page 17 of 21
Power (Dominion)
•12,057 of the 13,591 customers (~89%) in the City of North Augusta currently have power (as of noon)
•19 of 20 substation breakers restored
•Approximately 510 personnel (linemen, tree trimmers, engineers, technicians, assessors, etc) supporting
restoration efforts specifically in the North Augusta area.
•Total Estimated Damage
Estimated 350 broken poles / ~6hrs of work per pole
Estimated 700 spans of wire down / ~3hrs of work per span
Estimated 225 transformers to replace / ~2hrs of work per transformer
•Goal is 95% restoral by Wednesday
Power (AEC)
•Goal is 100% restoral in Aiken County by Friday
•Edgefield County residents (Gregory Landing) may take longer
SCDOT
•All traffic lights are now operational in city limits
•SCDOT debris contractors may start as early as this week. Priorities are Interstate Highways, State
Highways, then State roads (approx 75% of roads in the City maintained by SCDOT)
Current StatusATTACHMENT #5 Page 18 of 21
Current Status
(Dominion)
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•Enable power restoration to 100% of our citizens
•Road hazards fully identified and removed
•Road debris cleared, all roads to pre-Hurricane status
•Recreational Facilities & City Parks opened to the extent possible
•Plan to repair city facilities presented to Council
•Greeneway passable from end to end
Operation End State:ATTACHMENT #5 Page 20 of 21
Questions?
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