Clay County signs MOA with State for Debris Removal

Press Release

On October 10, 2025, Clay County entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management to facilitate expedited assistance with debris removal resulting from Tropical Storm Helene. Tropical Storm Helene caused unprecedented damage and debris in Western North Carolina.

Accumulated debris in our waterways creates emergencies and urgent conditions that require timely removal to protect health and safety and avert additional risks to the public in the event of future storms and weather events. This agreement aligns with broader state recovery programs and waterway debris missions managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers under FEMA oversight and supplemented by state funding.

The MOA facilitates reimbursement for debris removal costs that would strain Clay County’s budget. Expenses for removing debris from public right of ways, private properties (via the Private Property Debris Removal Program) and waterways will come at no expense to Clay County taxpayers. Additional state funding allocated through the NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) supplements federal aid. This additional money will help target smaller streams and tributaries often overlooked as recovery typically focuses on major rivers. This will help ensure comprehensive coverage.

Debris in waterways, magnified following Helene, poses substantial risks like blocked drainage, increased flooding potential during future storms, and contamination of water supplies. NCDEM state contracted crews, and equipment will be used for rapid removal, reducing hazards. The MOA ensures debris removal follows proper guidelines to minimize erosion, soil contamination and harm to the aquatic environment. This partnership has proven effective in similar counties, with over 6.9 million cubic yards of right of way debris cleared across western NC waterways as of mid-2025.

The Clay County Board of Commissioners delegated County Manager Debbie Mauney to enter into the agreement which has been thoroughly reviewed and approved by County Attorney Merinda Woody and the state legal team. County leadership has been working with Jerritt Gideon, Program Coordinator with the State Mission Assigned Recovery Task Program, NC Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management, for several months. Leadership has always advocated for the use of local qualified contractors and subs if available. A few weeks ago, the state awarded the contract to Parrish Construction out of Macon County. Parrish is one of a few companies that has the experience and equipment to do the required work. Their close proximity to Clay County is also helpful.

Equipment began being staged on County property within the last few weeks ahead of the project beginning. Currently equipment is located on property across from Courthouse Drive. That land was purchased by the county with a $850,000 grant and will be the future home of the new Clay County EMS and Community Paramedic Training Facility. In exchange for the use of County property in the staging of equipment and subsequent debris processing, Parrish Construction will assist in the initial development of ingress and egress to the utilized properties. Further discussions among the State, Parrish Construction and Clay County will take place in the coming days as plans become finalized.

Overall, the MOA transforms a potential crisis into a structured recovery pathway, leveraging state expertise and resources to restore Clay County’s natural assets and community vitality more efficiently than had we acted alone. And at zero costs to Clay County.