AUGUSTA, Ga. () – Augusta city leaders are getting ready to reopen three city cemeteries. 

They’ve been closed for almost six months because of damage from the hurricane.

The parks and rec department says it has been a process since the storm hit on September 27th, but this week they are set to reopen the Magnolia, Cedar Grove, and Westview cemeteries. 

While debris trucks continue to collect debris around the city, parks and rec employees have been working with FEMA the last few months to handle damage inside of cemeteries. 

“We had to be very safe and cautious in the cemeteries not to cause any further damage to anything while removing trees with the process we had in place to get that done,” said Deputy Director Alfonza Williams.

Some companies working with the city have also seen the damage caused by fallen trees firsthand. 

“Some of the plots were destroyed, like slabs. We had to take them up and replace them, and just make sure everything is leveled out right,” said Demetrius Few.

But with the parks department set to reopen the cemeteries in a few days, workers say it couldn’t come at a better time.

Crews say they’ve seen Augustans trying to sneak inside the property at different times over the last few months. 

“There’s a lot of family members that have been trying to sneak in the cemeteries were closed. They didn’t understand, they just wanted to see their family—which I understand. But it’s kind of dangerous,” said Few.

“I’m sure that that has happened. We try to do our best to have those locked and secured for safety measures, but again you do have people that will take other measures to get in by any means necessary,” Williams said.

With some areas still deemed unsafe, Williams says they’re starting with a “soft reopening” with designated times for visitors.

Families will only be allowed to visit their family plot, and each visitor will have to sign a waiver when they come through the gate. 

“We do have areas in there that are cautioned off. There are areas that we still can’t have citizens to be near for safety reasons. This is why I’m calling it a “soft opening”, because it’s just not open to the public to float through the entire cemetery,” Williams added.

“It’s very important that they get in, especially those that visit their loved ones on a regular. They haven’t been able to for the good part of the last 6 months, so it’s very important to myself, the mayor and all commissioners,” said Williams.

Families can come at two designated times as this reopening process starts. 

Starting Wednesday, March 26th, visitors can come from 8 AM to 11 AM, and 1 PM to 3 PM. 

Click here to see the full schedule of reopening’s, including the next phases to get back to normal operations.