Tampa Completes Hurricane Debris Removal Efforts

The city of Tampa has announced the successful completion of storm debris removal from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, achieving this milestone ahead of the Christmas holiday. Over 1.3 million cubic yards of debris were collected, enough to fill the Rivergate Tower four times, with crews working more than 118,000 hours to clear the streets. Mayor Jane Castor praised the dedication of Solid Waste workers and contractors, who conducted three passes through neighborhoods to ensure thorough cleanup. St. Petersburg also reported significant debris collection, totaling over 2 million cubic yards, while Clearwater concluded its own debris removal efforts. The city is now focused on transporting the debris to the McKay Bay Transfer Station for FEMA assessment before the January 11 deadline. This efficient cleanup process is expected to qualify for 100% reimbursement from FEMA, with an estimated cost of around $65 million.