Hurricane Aftermath: When And How Debris Will Be Picked Up
The City of Tampa is dealing with a lot of debris after two hurricanes hit back-to-back. Cleanup started right away, and the Solid Waste Department has set some big goals to handle the mess. The department is working hard to clear all the debris from both homes and the storms left behind by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. To meet the demand, the Solid Waste Department is increasing its pay to hire more workers and expand its efforts, according to a news release.
Right now, 32 Solid Waste trucks and 23 contracted trucks are collecting debris throughout the city. Every day, they collect about 3,750 cubic yards of debris, which is about the size of 18 football fields. Leaders from the department think there are around 1,000,000 cubic yards of debris from both hurricanes. Enough to fill 10,000 football fields. For comparison, after Hurricane Irma in 2017, they only collected 175,000 cubic yards.
To help people know where cleanup is happening, the city has made a map showing which areas have been cleared and which are still being worked on. The map is updated every day. Haulers are dropping off debris at five different stations around the city to avoid long trips to the McKay Bay Waste-to-Energy Plant, where the city burns waste to produce energy.
The news release says the City of Tampa is working hard to finish the job within 90 days.
Residents who want faster removal can take their debris to the McKay Bay Transfer Station at 114 S 34th Street for free. The city reminds residents not to put storm debris in bags but to leave it in piles next to the road.
Fox 13 News reports that the Tampa Bay Rays are figuring out what to do after Hurricane Milton tore the roof off Tropicana Field. Opening Day for the 2025 season is set for March 27, and the Rays are now wondering if Tropicana Field will be ready in time.
On Oct. 16, workers outside Tropicana Field used a drone to inspect the roof’s frame, trying to figure out if it could be fixed quickly or at all. The Rays and the City of St. Petersburg are reportedly considering the possibility that the team might not play at Tropicana Field again.
No one has said how much it would cost to repair the roof or if they’re even considering it yet. Fixing it would potentially cost millions, and the Rays are already planning to open a new stadium in four years.
Fox 13 also reported that the roof at Tropicana Field was built to handle winds up to 100 MPH, but the new stadium’s roof, which opens in 2028, will be designed to withstand winds of 145 to 155 MPH.
