Tampa crews working around the clock to clear hurricane debris: ‘All hands on deck’

TAMPA, FL – The city of Tampa said it is an all-hands-on-deck operation to collect storm debris within 90 days.

READ MORE: City of Tampa has 90 days to remove all hurricane debris: ‘We’re doing it’

If the city manages to clean up everything within three months, FEMA will pay for it.

“Honestly, everything will always be fine,” said Solid Waste Director Larry Washington. “This is what it looks like in all cases across the country. However, we are determined to complete everything before the 90-day (deadline).”

READ MORE: Here’s what you need to know about storm debris removal by county

“I get calls every day about ‘my neighborhood being ignored.’ We divided the city and in each neighborhood we have an equal number of contractors and city employees,” said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. “So we reiterate that we are doing this as quickly as possible.”

Both the city Tampa – I Hillsborough County – Provide color maps online showing residents where crews are and where they are expected to arrive next.

Photos of three-color maps of Tampa and Hillsborough counties.

“We are currently working on the first set of networks. We have just reached an agreement with most of our contractors. So when we get to the end of this week, we’ll be able to give you a potential timeline,” Washington said.

More than 150,000 cubic meters of rubble have already been collected. If debris is also affected, the mayor said Wednesday that multiple cleanups will take place.

“They will come out for the second round and sometimes the third round,” Castor said. “We will continue to sweep these neighborhoods.”

Garbage collection teams are picking up trash in Hillsborough County as the city races against the clock for 90 days.

To make the process go more smoothly, Washington encouraged residents to separate their homes rubble into appropriate piles. Residents are also asked to keep piles of debris away from power lines, parking vehicles and trees so that trucks collecting debris can more easily access them.

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