About 1,200 customers in Bryan County served by three electricity companies remained without power Wednesday morning. That is down from more than 12,000 on Saturday after Hurricane Matthew hit.
Those numbers include about 650 customers of Canoochee EMC in the Pembroke and Ellabell areas. Canoochee said 95 percent of its system was knocked off line. Another 330 Georgia Power Customers in North Bryan remain without service, while about 125 Georgia Power customers and 80 Coastal Electric Cooperative customers in South Bryan do not have electricity.
The cities of Pembroke and Richmond Hill, as well as the county, have begun picking up storm debris curbside. The city of Richmond Hill said it will also collect storm debris on private property, such as The Ford Plantation. Residents who live in the unincorporated portion of the county but have a homeowners association should check with them on debris collection.
Trash and recycling pickup in Pembroke is on hold, while trash collection has begun in the county and Richmond Hill, but recycling has been suspended. County residents may use both their trash and recycling bins for household waste, but not Richmond Hill residents. The city is asking that storm debris other than trees and branches, such as carpeting, be placed in a separate pile curbside. Bryan County Emergency Services has asked property owners to send them pictures of damage, even if fallen trees and limbs have already been cut and piled, in order to assess overall damage.
The cities of Pembroke and Richmond Hill and the county say all municipal water systems are safe, but customers with a privately managed water system are encouraged to boil tap water or use bottled water until notified by the company.
Students in Bryan County Schools are scheduled to return to class Monday. Superintendent Paul Brooksher said once all schools have power restored the district will perform HVAC checks and safety inspections, and nutritional staff will inventory food losses.
A burn ban remains in effect.
The Pembroke City Council meeting originally scheduled for Monday will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at city hall. The county commissioners meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday will be held at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 25 at the administration building on Capt. Matthew Freeman Drive.