West Columbia Riverwalk Still Closed After Hurricane Helene
Hey, West Columbia! It’s been over two months since Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on our beautiful city, and yet, the main section of the West Columbia Riverwalk remains closed. Yep, that’s right—still blocked off by an unwelcoming fence with no clear sign of when we can stroll along that picturesque half-mile path again. The closure started back in late September when the storm’s floodwaters swept through, doing quite a number on both the West Columbia and Cayce sections of the riverwalk.
What Happened to the Riverwalk?
The closure includes the beloved stretch that starts near the West Columbia Amphitheater and connects to the portion of the trail in Cayce. Why is Cayce back in action while West Columbia’s trail is still out of commission? Great question! The city of West Columbia is currently waiting on disaster funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to kick off repairs. A spokesperson confirmed that city officials are gearing up for a meeting with FEMA and the South Carolina Emergency Management later this month.
“Until we hear back from them, we can’t provide an estimated timeline for reopening, and we don’t yet know the overall costs of the damage,” said city spokesperson Anna Huffman. It feels a bit like being stuck in limbo, doesn’t it?
A Look Back at the Storm
Let’s rewind to when Hurricane Helene struck the southeast. Residents woke up on September 27 to find fallen trees and power lines everywhere as public works trucks hustled to clear the roads. Many areas were left without power for days. With water rushing down the Congaree River from the Upstate and western North Carolina, the river hit a whopping 30.5 feet, completely submerging parts of our beloved West Columbia and Cayce riverwalks.
FEMA finally gave Lexington County a disaster declaration just a few days later, allowing West Columbia to submit a request for funds on October 14. However, it’s important to note that this was just the beginning of a lengthier process, which involves assessments and planning before any funds will actually be allocated. So frustrating!
The Actual Damage on the Ground
When the floodwaters finally receded, city officials faced an extensive and challenging cleanup. As Mayor Tem Miles aptly put it, “When you have extensive damage from natural disasters, you have to go through a different process.” Cleanup involved debris removal of fallen trees and mud clearance, but full repairs will take a lot more time.
So far, the parking lot, amphitheater, and a small segment of the trail have reopened, but the majority remains closed while the city waits on FEMA. While Cayce’s riverwalk reopened on November 7, West Columbia’s has the unfortunate honor of being closed for a whole month longer, with extensive structural repairs still needing attention.
Cayce’s Quick Recovery
Cayce, on the other hand, seems to have maneuvered through their storm damage more swiftly, opting to use their city funds immediately while applying for FEMA reimbursement afterward. In fact, Cayce had to replace one of their boardwalks and spent at least $100,000 on contractors for repairs.
“Getting that reopened was something we knew we had to really focus on and do,” said Cayce spokesperson Ashley Hunter. Meanwhile, West Columbia officials are left balancing the long wait for FEMA assistance while trying to assess and plan for the repairs needed on their side.
What’s Next for West Columbia?
In the aftermath of past storms, the cleanup has often turned out to be a drawn-out process. After the floods in 2015, for example, it took years for some areas to reopen fully. In this case, a FEMA spokesperson pointed out: “Even though it has been two months since the hurricane hit, that’s not unusual when you’re managing large projects like this.”
With the meeting with FEMA on the horizon, we’re all hopeful for some exciting news soon about the reopening of our riverwalk! In the meantime, let’s just hang tight and keep our fingers crossed that the wait won’t be much longer.
