Photo By Samantha Heilig | While deployed for the Hurricane Helene Debris Recovery mission quality assurance...... read more read more
For 55 days, Abigail Culloton traded her civil engineering job in the USACE Rock Island District’s Hydraulic Engineering Section for life in the field as part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ emergency response to Hurricane Helene in Georgia.
Supporting the debris recovery mission as a quality assurance (QA) representative, Culloton’s deployment spanned three counties and included long days, demanding work schedules, and meaningful connections with local residents and fellow USACE staff.
“This was my first deployment,” said Culloton. “It was really fulfilling to be on the ground helping a community recover from a disaster.”
The mission began in Jenkins County, where Culloton spent her first month monitoring crews removing hazardous trees and storm debris from rural roads. Days were spent driving between work sites, logging progress in an online reporting system, ensuring safety standards were being met, and helping to determine what could be cleared. After the initial cleanup phase ended in late February, her focus shifted to debris disposal operations in Montgomery and Lowndes counties.
“At that point, I was stationed at various debris storage and final disposal sites,” said Culloton. “I worked either up in towers making load calls and photographing debris or collecting and logging load tickets from contractors on the ground.”
Throughout the deployment, life centered around long 12-hour shifts, hotel stays, and takeout meals, but small moments made a lasting impact.
“There was a local restaurant in Jenkins County where the staff learned our names and our orders like we were part of the community,” Culloton said. “One day, one of them told us how much we meant to them and the town. That moment really stuck with me.”
The engineer recalled hearing personal stories from residents affected by the storm, many of whom endured weeks without power due to washed-out roads and fallen trees. While much of the debris was cleared by the time she arrived for her deployment, remnants of the storm—damaged trees, rooftops, and signs—still lingered.
“People were willing to help each other even with limited resources,” she said. “Their kindness and resilience reaffirmed the importance of what we were doing.”
Despite the physical demands and fast pace, the experience offered valuable insights—both professionally and personally.
“As a civil engineer, it was interesting to see how the systems we build hold up in major events and how critical it is to invest in resilient infrastructure,” she said. “It deepened my appreciation for our work on flood risk and sustainability.”
Looking back, Culloton says she would deploy again without hesitation.
“In talking with others, I learned that every deployment is different, and there’s always something new to learn,” she said. “I also made great connections with Corps employees from across the country—people I hope to work with again.”
For those considering deployment, Culloton’s advice is simple: “Take the opportunity to get to know people—both in the Corps and in the communities. That’s where you find the meaning in the mission.”
| Date Taken: | 05.20.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.21.2025 10:38 |
| Story ID: | 498511 |
| Location: | ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 33 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, DEPLOYMENT SPOTLIGHT: Helping Georgia Communities recover from Hurricane Helene, by Samantha Heilig, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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