DeSantis says state will help with Hurricane Milton debris removal

Romy Ellenbogen, Tampa Bay Times on Oct 13, 2024

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Gov. Ron DeSantis is again using state forces to help with county and city debris removal after Hurricane Milton came tearing through Florida, he announced Sunday.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved a 100% reimbursement rate for debris collection in Florida’s impacted areas for a 90-day window. Ordinarily, the federal government reimburses 75% of debris removal, DeSantis said, and then the state and the local government have to split the remaining 25% of the cost.

DeSantis said collecting the debris earlier would be more cost-effective because of the federal government’s reimbursement, and said “we should take advantage of that.”

“If you wait, if it takes a year, then you’re not gonna get the bang for the buck,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis said he directed over 2,800 personnel from the Florida Department of Transportation, the Florida State Guard, the National Guard, Florida Highway Patrol and search and rescue to help with debris removal.

The debris mission is focusing mainly on Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota counties, but the Department of Transportation will also complete debris removal in small, fiscally constrained counties, DeSantis said.

The transportation has suspended size and weight requirements for vehicles conducting debris removal. DeSantis said he was requiring local governments to identify properties that could be used as debris removal sites, as well as requiring them to report the amount of debris removed every day, which will be shown on a dashboard accessible by the public.

DeSantis and Kevin Guthrie, the director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, urged local governments to get together their debris removal cost estimates and submit their requests.

“This is bureaucratic speak, but basically what it means is you can get the money soon instead of having to front it and then fight for a year or year and a half to get the money back,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis said the state’s effort would be “unprecedented.” Debris is typically handled by local governments, he said.

DeSantis’ press conference in Treasure Island was just a few miles away from where President Joe Biden spoke earlier in the day. DeSantis did not meet with Biden, though the White House said he was invited.

Before Hurricane Milton made landfall, the state used its personnel and equipment to haul out debris from Hurricane Helene. DeSantis said that crews were able to remove about half of the debris on barrier islands in 72 hours. When Milton came, much of Helene’s debris was still present, but largely stayed in place despite the thrashing winds.

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