In a little more than 48 hours, workers removed 55,000 cubic yards of debris left in the wake of Hurricane Helene, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
As Hurricane Milton barrels toward Florida’s Gulf Coast, residents are facing the daunting challenge of both preparing for the new storm and dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. In the wake of Helene’s destruction, which had already caused widespread damage across the state, workers had been frantically working to clear debris. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis reported that in just over 48 hours, about 55,000 cubic yards of debris had been removed, but the cleanup effort came to a halt as the new storm approached.
The debris from Helene consists of wrecked furniture, downed trees, broken fences, and other household items scattered across neighborhoods. This material, which was left behind by the hurricane, now poses a significant threat, especially with Milton’s winds expected to pick up in intensity. As Milton’s landfall nears, the urgency to clear these piles has grown, but it remains a race against time.
With Milton’s winds already strengthening and tornado-like supercells reported in some areas, local authorities suspended trash collection efforts. Garbage haulers, who had been working around the clock, were pulled from their routes to prepare for the storm’s arrival. This has left many residents with the dangerous debris, which is now a liability as the strong winds of Milton threaten to turn these objects into projectiles.
In Tampa, one of the hardest-hit areas by both Helene and the oncoming Milton, residents remaining in the city are worried about the debris. Heather McClellan, 34, passed a yard piled with ruined furniture and expressed her concerns. “I’m just afraid that the wind is going to pick that stuff up and it’s going to be a projectile,” she said. Many of the city’s streets are lined with similar piles of debris, which, in the face of an intensifying hurricane, could lead to serious injuries.
The threat from Milton’s winds, combined with the clutter of leftover wreckage, has prompted local authorities to issue additional warnings to stay indoors and avoid areas with large debris piles. Officials have been encouraging residents to evacuate if possible, especially those living near the coast, where the storm surge is predicted to be severe. In some areas, people have already begun to leave, and shelters have been set up to accommodate those seeking refuge.
For those who remain, the fear of what could happen when Milton makes landfall is palpable. The combination of the storm’s winds, heavy rainfall, and the potential for dangerous flying debris has heightened the sense of urgency. People are being urged to secure their homes as best they can, and many have taken extra measures to protect themselves from both the storm and the debris scattered around their neighborhoods.
As of now, it’s unclear how much more debris will be cleared before Milton arrives. However, the state’s ability to complete the cleanup efforts in time has been severely hindered by the limited time and resources available. Florida’s residents and officials are bracing for the worst, hoping that Milton’s impact will not cause further devastation on top of what Helene left behind.