Officials in Catoosa County and the city of Ringgold say the pickup of debris from last week's tornadoes will begin soon and they're arranging for help from private contractors.

County Manager Mike Helton and City Manager Dan Wright say pickup will begin this week. Helton says natural occurring wood, trees and brush should be placed at the roadside, while man-made debris should be placed in a separate pile.

Helton says contractors will divide the area into zones.

Wright's asking the public for patience because there are many areas to be covered.

The storms killed eight people in Catoosa County and 15 across Georgia.

The Georgia Department of Labor opened an office in Ringgold on Wednesday to help people who are unemployed because of the storm.

Tags: northwest Georgia, Catoosa County, tornado damage, severe storms, debris pickup