UPDATE: Milton was upgraded to a hurricane on Sunday.
ORIGINAL STORY:
State and local leaders are prioritizing the removal of debris from Hurricane Helene as another powerful storm bears down on the region.
Tropical Storm Milton formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday and was expected to make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane along the Gulf Coast. The greater Tampa Bay region is within the cone of uncertainty.
Helene, which grazed the area on Sept. 26, brought widespread flooding from record storm surge. Many residents whose homes were flooded have spent the past week piling mountains of waterlogged debris onto their front lawns.
If Milton brings heavy winds and a powerful storm surge to the area, the debris from Helene could become hazardous to people, homes and the environment.
Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency in 35 Florida counties, including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Polk, Manatee and Sarasota.
The order mandates that all disaster debris management sites and landfills remain open to allow 24-hour debris drop off in an attempt to dispose of as much debris from Hurricane Helene as possible.
"So you get hit with a with a major hurricane, what do you think that's going to happen to that debris?" DeSantis said. "It's going to increase the damage dramatically?"
DeSantis also directed state personnel to work around the clock to assist municipalities with cleanup and debris disposal. The Florida Department of Transportation is helping remove remaining sand from roads throughout the barrier islands of Pinellas County. And DeSantis has directed the Florida National Guard, Florida State Guard and additional FDOT personnel to support local entities in debris removal.
"Over 800 Guardsmen are currently deployed with for debris removal," DeSantis said. "A more majority of those are in Pinellas County, and we will soon have up to 4,000 guardsmen for this time sensitive debris removal mission. ... All assets that can help with debris removal are being marshaled to help remove the debris."
The state also put out a call for more dump trucks from it's debris vendors on Saturday and by 7 a.m. Sunday the vendors had 150 extra truck on site at Tropicana Field.
"You talk about having hundreds of additional dump trucks, that's going to make a big, big difference and they are working around the clock," DeSantis said.
The priorities are the barrier islands in Pinellas and Manatee counties, coastal Pasco County and some sites in Hillborough County, he said.
The state also has the ability to commandeer sites where the debris can be taken.
Pasco County officials asked residents to use ropes or bungee cords to secure debris ahead of Milton to keep it from becoming a hazard during high winds or storm surge.
Tampa officials announced Saturday that the city will open its McKay Bay Transfer Station to the public on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. so people could dispose of debris. There is no cost to drop it off.
The city is deploying additional departments and contractors to aid in curbside collection. It's asking residents to bundle and cover the debris or secure it in an enclosed area as they await collection.
St. Petersburg secured additional contractors to collect debris and expanded it's collection times to 24 hours a day. The city is also connecting people with private haulers who can remove the debris and urging people to cover their piles with tarps and tie them down if possible.
And on Saturday, U.S. Rep. Lindsay Cross urged federal officials to eliminate bureaucracy that is preventing the quick removal of debris.
In a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Cross said FEMA should allow Pinellas County to manage all debris removal. The federal agency should also remove restrictions on commercial and multi-family waste and open more certified debris sites that accept waste.
"Debris contains broken glass and metal, toxic chemicals and mold," Cross' letter said. "Letting this dangerous material languish, with the possibility of it causing further damage to homes and businesses and human life is a massive health and safety risk."
