Officials are pushing for extra Halloween safety measures due to Helene's debris

NORTH AUGUSTA, SC (WRDW/WAGT) – Halloween is Thursday and safety is paramount when taking your kids trick or treating.

Some neighborhoods still have a lot of debris from Hurricane Helene, making door-to-door trick-or-treating unsafe.

Parents say it’s a shock to still have to worry about this a month later.

North Augusta’s Hammond Hills neighborhood is an example of debris that led parents and law enforcement to take a different approach this year.

“With traffic increasing in many areas, there is only room for one car,” said Ben Schneider, a North Augusta parent. “So it’s definitely a concern.”

Schneider says that, like many parents, they will have to get creative for Halloween this year.

“Clearly the amount of debris is a safety concern and we don’t want anyone to get caught in anything.”

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North Augusta Public Safety will deploy additional patrols to neighborhoods throughout the city.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office encourages doing activities earlier and taking advantage of other options such as trunk or treats.

Schneider says it gives his family peace of mind knowing that efforts are being made to make the spooky season a little less stressful.

“We’re definitely going to look for other options because I think this is probably not the best area right now,” Schneider said

He says things may look different this year, but he believes everyone will make the best of it.

“It’s a shame we can’t have the traditional door-to-door experience,” Schneider said. “But you know, when it comes to safety reasons, I totally understand.”

Law enforcement officials are encouraging parents to plan routes in advance if they choose to take their children out tomorrow.

That means finding areas with less dirt and wearing reflective, bright gear to stand out in the dark.