With the possible threat of Ivan, officials waive landfill fees and instruct residents to be ready and patient as crews make stops.
By TERRI D. REEVES
Published September 10, 2004
While many homeowners are rushing home early from work to pick up yard debris, and garbage collectors and storm crews work overtime, a new reality looms in the Caribbean.
Powerful Hurricane Ivan could hit this area before all the debris is safely collected and out of the way. That could mean additional flying missiles for an already storm-weary community.
While some municipalities, such as Dunedin, say it could take weeks to clear all the debris, there is something homeowners can do in the meantime.
The county is opening its landfill as well as two dropoff sites, and waiving the normal fee for those residents willing to transport the vegetation themselves. Municipalities are also making concerted efforts to get as much wreckage picked up as possible before the potential storm.
Douglas Hutchens, director of public works and utilities for the city of Dunedin, said the city was hit exceptionally hard by Frances. Many residents experienced power outages and the city has made collecting rotting food from refrigerators and freezers a priority.
"It could take six to eight weeks to collect all the material from the storm," Hutchens said. "It's a physical impossibility to get it all before then."
He said street and storm crews were lending their support and he is in the process of trying to line up other emergency aid services.
Residents should be patient, he advised. It took the city one whole day just to clean up four blocks in southwest Dunedin.
He acknowledged that lingering debris could be dangerous in light of an incoming hurricane.
"Absolutely," he said. "But if Ivan comes in as a Category 5 hurricane, yard debris will be the least of our worries. It will wreak havoc like we've never seen."
Plant and tree debris removal will take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays, while all other regular garbage will be collected on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Those areas hit the hardest will receive priority treatment, Hutchens said.
Residents are asked to stack debris neatly by the curb. Large limbs should be cut into sections no more than 4 to 6 feet in length and rakings should be placed in cans or bags. Contractors hired to cut and clean up debris are responsible for its removal.
In Clearwater, Tom Downes, assistant director of solid waste, said the city has already collected well over 400 tons of debris as of Wednesday night.
"That's not even half of what needs to be collected," he said.
Hardest hit was Clearwater Beach, the historic Harbor Oaks subdivision, the Del Oro Groves subdivision and some areas of Countryside.
Downes said crews were working 12-hour shifts, seven days a week to clean up the city.
He urged residents to get the debris to the curb and cut it up in reasonable lengths if necessary. Otherwise, there are no restrictions on what is put out.
"We want to help our citizens get it off the streets as soon as possible. Our goal is to speed up our efforts and have everything off the streets before any storm arrives," he said.
The city of Safety Harbor is holding a special yard collection day Saturday, said Grover Smith, the city's sanitation supervisor. Residents are advised to put debris in a 32-gallon container or smaller, no bags. Large limbs should be placed curbside.
"Please don't put yard waste in the normal automated 90-gallon container," Smith said.
If all the debris is not collected by Saturday, trucks will resume collection on Monday if possible.
Concerned residents may also deposit debris at the Safety Harbor Public Works Complex at 1200 Railroad Ave., open 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and the same hours this Saturday only. Proof of city residency is required.
F.Y.I.
Clearwater
* Residents should put their debris by the curb.
* Cut up tree limbs into reasonable lengths.
* For more information, call (727) 562-4920.
Dunedin
Plant and tree debris removal Wednesdays and Saturdays; all other regular garbage collected on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, with hard-hit areas getting priority.
* Stack debris by the curb. Cut up large limbs into 4- to 6-foot sections, and place rakings in cans or bags.
* Contractors hired to cut and clean up debris are responsible for removal.
* For more information, call (727) 298-3215.
Safety Harbor
* A yard collection day will be held Saturday. If they don't finish, trucks will collect Monday if possible.
* Put debris in a 32-gallon container or smaller, no bags. Large limbs should be placed curbside.
* Debris can be deposited at the Safety Harbor Public Works Complex, 1200 Railroad Ave., 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday, with the same hours Saturday only. Proof of city residency is required.
