TAMPA, Fla. — On Wednesday, Hillsborough County Commissioners voted unanimously to use $60 million from its Disaster Recovery Fund to expedite debris removal after Hurricane Milton. The money is expected to be reimbursed by FEMA.
It comes as debris from hurricanes Helene and Milton continue to line streets across the county.
At the meeting, Hillsborough Emergency Management updated commissioners on recovery, estimating the household and vegetative debris from Helene and Milton is more than they’d typically collect in 8 1/2 years.
So far, Emergency Management said they’ve collected nearly 500,000 cubic yards of debris from hurricanes Helene and Milton. However, even with more than 150 trucks working seven days a week, that’s just 10% of the trash they expect to collect as a result of the devastating storms.
Now, they’re urging patience as they continue what they call their “marathon phase” of debris collection.
"We are making progress. Clearly, it’s going to take a long time," said Commissioner Ken Hagan. "I want folks to know that we understand the severity of the issue and that we are addressing it."
The decision to use the $60 million from the emergency fund to assist with clean-up passed unanimously and without debate.
Commissioner Pat Kemp said, "I just wanted to say this is so critical in regards to our reserve funds and this is why we take them so seriously."
Meanwhile, in countless neighborhoods across the county, people wait for pick up.
Steve Grant of Gibsonton said, "It’s frustrating. I feel like we get forgotten on this side sometimes, but I know people are dealing with this everywhere."
Grant said he and others are taking matters into their own hands.
"Most people got their own dumpsters," said Grant. "That’s what I did, I got two dumpsters, and I know my neighbor, he got a dumpster and then we're paying to have it taken away."
In Town ‘N Country, Nicole Martin said clean streets will allow her and her neighbors to put Helene and Milton behind them.
Martin said, "We don’t want to keep being reminded. All our trash, to see it over and over again, it’s hard to come down our streets and see all the junk everywhere."
Hillsborough Emergency Management said the goal of county waste management is to make a first pass through all the neighborhoods they’re responsible for by Nov. 16th.
They aim to complete debris pick-up within 90 days of Hurricane Milton, by Jan. 7th.