GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. — Just a day after authorities allowed residents back onto the island, things are slowly returning to normal on St. Simons in Glynn County.
Just hours after Hurricane Matthew blew through the island just a few miles away from Brunswick, first responders had trouble accessing much of the island because of fallen trees. But now, most of the main roads are clear and power is restored to much of the island.
“We’re pretty tired,” said Hunter Bickely of Carolina Tree Service. They’re out of Aiken, South Carolina, and have been along the coast since Friday. Bickley said his crew cleared trees from the outskirts of Jacksonville to Brunswick, but he said the tree damage on St. Simons was the worst he’s seen.
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“When we got here, just about every tree was on a line,” Bickley said. “I think now, just about all the trees are off the lines. They’re on the side of the road, and we’ve been clearing up most of the mess.” %
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Bickely guesses his crews have worked a total of 80-hours since Friday.
While most of the main roads are open, fallen trees are still an issue for the surrounding neighborhoods as returning residents are beginning their own cleanup.
Margaret Ernst, 10, and her sister Amelia were out in their front yard helping their grandparents cleanup up storm debris. Her mother gave us permission to talk to her. Margaret and her whole family evacuated to Columbus, Georgia, to get away from Matthew and only just returned Wednesday.
“We just found a bunch of stuff in our yard,” said Margaret as she shoveled yard debris into a plastic bag. “There was really not much damage to our house, but back in our backyard, there was a lot of leaves and sticks and things like that.”
St. Simons is trying to get things back to normal in time for the annual Georgia-Florida football game played in Jacksonville. Many UGA fans stay in St. Simons and drive down to the game.
Cox Media Group
