CLEARWATER, Fla. — It couldn't come at a better time — an annual street and beach cleanup at Clearwater Beach is set for Friday morning, and it needs volunteers to help.
While the 3rd Annual Big Cleanup Clearwater volunteer cleanup was planned in advance, it comes a day after an EF-2 tornado tore through Clearwater Beach and nearby Dunedin. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but many homes and businesses were significantly damaged as a result.
These volunteer cleanup efforts have been taking place this past week, with the big event scheduled for Friday, Oct. 13, Keep Pinellas Beautiful said in a release. The event is in partnership with the nonprofit, the city of Clearwater, AMPLIFY Clearwater, Visit St. Pete/Clearwater and Ocean Allies.
"Being a coastal city, cleanup events are important in Clearwater for reducing litter that often ends up in the Gulf," Keep Pinellas Beautiful said. "The Big Cleanup Clearwater is a weeklong family-friendly volunteer event that allows the whole community, from residents to business organizations, to come together and work toward the goal of removing litter that negatively affects the natural habitat, thereby improving social wellness and livability."
For those looking to volunteer, here's what you need to know:
When: Friday, Oct. 13
- 9 a.m. — Welcome
- 9:15 a.m. - 11 a.m. — Safety briefing, followed by beach & street cleanup.
Where: Clearwater Beach at the west end of Papaya Street.
Parking: Limited parking available at Bob Heilman's Beachcomber Restaurant at 447 Mandalay Ave. Public beach parking is also an option.
"The event is also a significant effort that brings awareness to taking a preventive step in adopting sustainable and ocean-friendly practices like minimizing single-use plastics to reduce trash at its source," the release continued.
One of two tornadoes Thursday occurred in Clearwater Beach where a beachfront sky cam caught a large waterspout moving near Pier 60. It was later confirmed that the waterspout came ashore as a tornado.
The National Weather Service Tampa Bay confirmed Thursday night that it was an EF-2 tornado with an estimated peak wind speed of 115 mph and 4.9 miles of path length.
Significant damage was reported in a neighborhood north of the main beach.