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Tag: Hurricane Milton

  • St. Pete Woman’s Club works to restore 95-year-old building after hurricanes

    St. Pete Woman’s Club works to restore 95-year-old building after hurricanes

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Members and volunteers are working hard to restore the St. Petersburg Woman’s Club building, which is nearly 100 years old.

    Water and wind from hurricanes Helene and Milton damaged the historic landmark. It’s home to the club, known for community service since 1913.

    What You Need To Know

    • Volunteers work to restore the historic St. Petersburg Woman’s Club building, which was damaged in hurricanes
    • The building is almost 100 years old
    • Vice President of Daily Operations Cathy Allen said the building’s landmark is on the national, state, and local historic register
    • A fundraiser is being held to assist with the restoration process


    “We were very instrumental in a lot of the things that happened in downtown St. Petersburg as women, and back then, you didn’t do that, that’s not what you did. We were very involved in the suffrage movement,” said Cathy Allen, vice president of Daily Operations.

    Allen previously served as club president and is proud to help restore the future for the group that puts in 16,000 to 20,000 hours of volunteer service each year.

    “They come and they make quilts for hospice, and they crochet caps for newborns, and they do so much here and they do it as a group. The idea of not being able to meet here to do that is sad,” said Allen.

    Generations of families also gather at the venue for weddings, birthdays, celebrations of life and corporate conferences for businesses.

    “So, in order to be able to keep up this club — which by the way is on the National Historic Registry, State Historic Registry and the St. Petersburg Historic Register — it costs a lot of money to keep this up, so we get that money by having events. We’ve been returning money,” Allen said of having to cancel events since the storms.

    The club is now working to raise that money back, and community members are helping with the restoration.

    “We were like a big bathtub in here, filled with sea water and sewage water, because the sewage plants had shut down,” Allen explained. “We literally had to gut the entire building.”

    A building the community is coming together to rebuild.

    “This building means so much, not only to us, the members, but to the entire community because we do so much for the community,” she expressed.

    A fundraising campaign has been set up for those in a position to help. And money raised from the club’s “A Night of Jazz in St. Pete” event will go toward the restoration.

    Members and volunteers are working together to preserve history, while making sure future generations can serve their community and create new memories in the beloved space.

    “We’re trying to restore it to its former glory, but better,” said Allen.

    A Night of Jazz in St. Pete will be held at the club on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

    A GoFundMe page has been started to help with the restoration process.

    GoFundMe.com, or any other third-party online fundraiser, is not managed by Spectrum Bay News 9 or Spectrum News 13. For more information on how GoFundMe works and its rules, visit http://www.gofundme.com/safety.

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    Melissa Eichman

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  • Small business owner donates money to Holmes Beach businesses

    Small business owner donates money to Holmes Beach businesses

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    HOLMES BEACH, Fla. — After enduring two hurricanes, local businesses are determined to get back on their feet.

    What You Need To Know

    • Last week, Casey Marquette donated $15,000 to several local businesses

    • He owns a small staffing agency called Covenant Technologies, so he can relate to other business owners

    • Some businesses in the Holmes Beach area remain closed after the recent hurricanes

    In Holmes Beach, some businesses are not open, are opening soon or are already open for business. 

    Many employees haven’t been back to work in weeks, after Milton and Helene went though the Tampa Bay area, so one local business owner in Holmes Beach is helping out

    Casey Marquette is checking in on one of his regular spots — the Freckled Fin Irish Pub in Holmes Beach.

    He owns a small staffing agency called Covenant Technologies and relates to what other business owners are going through, so he decided to help.

    “We donated to several small businesses on the island, and we’ve asked those businesses to give the money to the employees because, obviously, the businesses were shut down, and the employees are not making the money they would normally make,” he said.

    This isn’t the first time Marquette has done this. In 2022, he donated more than $20,000 to first responders, and just last week, he donated $15,000 to several local businesses.

    “It will help a little bit, but making people smile is what will have a bigger impact,” he said.

    Marquette knows firsthand how impactful the storms were — he says he lost everything inside his home.

    “There was two feet of water — literally everything is being thrown out. My aunt and I had to sit on the roof for four hours. It was scary,” he said.

    He almost lost his dog, Vinny, from the storm surge during Hurricane Helene.

    “I thought, ‘I’m his dad. I’ve killed my dog. He’s in this house drowning.’ So I start running around the house, knee-deep in water, and I found Vinny doing the doggy paddle in the living room,” he said.

    Marquette is thankful for what he saved and has now turned his focus to helping both his family and his community recover.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Treasure Island Mayor resigns in wake of hurricanes

    Treasure Island Mayor resigns in wake of hurricanes

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    TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. — Someone else will have to lead Treasure Island through hurricane recovery after the mayor announced his resignation.

    On Facebook, Mayor Tyler Payne said he didn’t have time to devote to the job and that his family is moving off the island after storms flooded out his house and damaged it beyond repair.

    Treasure Island took hits from both Helene and Milton, damaging homes and businesses.

    “As we recover from these storms, it is going to be critical for the Mayor to dedicate a significant amount of time to lead our community through the process,” Payne wrote. 

    “In addition to my role with the City, I have a full time job with my family business. We are in a critical growth phase right now and it is going to require my full effort and attention.”

    Payne said he will be living nearby and hopes to stay involved in the community. In his Facebook post, he said Vice Mayor John Doctor will take over.


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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • FEMA goes door-to-door offering help to storm victims in Polk County

    FEMA goes door-to-door offering help to storm victims in Polk County

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — FEMA crews are making their way through Polk County neighborhoods, trying to connect people with federal assistance and local resources.

    They have a lot of ground to cover, and they try to walk door-to-door to as many homes as possible.

    What You Need To Know

    • FEMA crews are trying to connect with Polk County residents and assist them with resources
    • Disaster Survivor Assistance Leader Ernestine James said homes in the area were damaged by hurricanes Helene and Milton, and that it needed FEMA’s attention

    • FEMA also encourages homeowners and renters to apply for assistance online


    Their first stop in Polk County was at Twin Palms Mobile Home Park. After several knocks on a door, no one answered, but FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Leader Ernestine James left a flyer behind.

    “We do get residents that are not at home yet, and we find that they haven’t made it back post-storm,” she said. “They left, they evacuated, they moved out, and they’re making their way back slowly, but surely. One resident at the time.”

    James said she and her team picked the senior living community because several homes were damaged during hurricanes Helene and Milton. Some residents lost their roofs during the storms.

    “You can see the wind damage, the water damage, the vegetative debris, so it was identified and rightly so. It definitely needed our attention out here,” James said.

    The crew made their way through the neighborhood, looking for people in need of assistance and resources.

    They eventually met Roseanne MacDonald and her husband. The couple said they’ve tried getting in touch with FEMA for the past two weeks.

    “It’s so busy and everything, so it’s good that (FEMA) came. Very good,” MacDonald said.

    During their visit, FEMA specialists read the MacDonalds their rights as applicants, then got started on the couple’s assistance application.

    Specialists ask residents to follow up throughout the process.

    In the meantime, FEMA will determine the next steps, while James and her crew have boots on the ground.

    “Reaching as many homes as we can,” she said.

    FEMA also encourages homeowners and renters to apply for assistance online.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Pinellas County School Board to vote on updated calendar following storms

    Pinellas County School Board to vote on updated calendar following storms

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Another piece of the recovery puzzles is figuring out how to make up time missed at school.

    Pinellas County’s school boards will try to figure that out at a meeting this Tuesday.

    Students missed nearly 50 hours of class time between hurricanes Helene and Milton.

    Superintendent Kevin Hendrick proposed a new calendar earlier this week. It includes adding a handful of days that were previously scheduled as early release or teacher planning days.

    Middle and high schoolers would also have their first semester exams waived. That would give them another full week of classes.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Four astronauts return to Earth after being delayed by Boeing’s Starliner problems and Hurricane Milton

    Four astronauts return to Earth after being delayed by Boeing’s Starliner problems and Hurricane Milton

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    Four astronauts return to Earth after being delayed by Boeing’s Starliner problems and Hurricane Milton

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  • 4 astronauts return to Earth after being delayed by Boeing’s capsule trouble

    4 astronauts return to Earth after being delayed by Boeing’s capsule trouble

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    The SpaceX crew of the Dragon spacecraft, from left, cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, pilot Michael Barratt, commander Matthew Dominick and mission specialist Jeanette Epps gather for a photo after arriving at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

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  • More Manatee beaches to open next week, officials say

    More Manatee beaches to open next week, officials say

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    HOLMES BEACH, Fla. — Beaches are beginning to make a comeback after receiving damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

    What You Need To Know

    • Some beaches in Manatee County were closed after receiving damage during Hurricanes Helene and Milton

    • County officials say, though, that Manatee Public Beach has reopened and they are working to reopen other beaches soon

    • Manatee County Property Management Deputy Director Carmine DeMilio says crews have been cleaning for 29 days straight to get shuttered beaches reopened

    In Manatee County, officials say the Manatee Public Beach on Anna Maria Island is now open, and they’re working to get other beaches open soon.

    With residents starting to recover and businesses reopening, residents say they hope the beaches are next. 

    Manatee County Property Management Deputy Director Carmine DeMilio said repairing damage to beaches has been one of the county’s top priorities.

    “We have cut up and removed over 80 trees, and we have been running two to three beach rigs daily to keep the beaches clean,” said DeMilio.

    DeMilio said tourism has about a $2 billion economic impact in Manatee County, and crews have been cleaning for 29 days straight, working 12-hour shifts, so beachgoers can return.

    “We’re looking to open a portion of Coquina Beach mid-next weekend, to later in the week,” he said.

    County officials say they’re hoping for a quick rebound and want people to know the damage is being fixed.

    “It’s so important that we get the message out that these restaurants and businesses are back open for business, too,” said Manatee County commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge. “People will start to come back out to their favorite places and enjoy them again.”

    Van Ostenbridge said it could take up to 30 days of cleaning to get all the sand cleared of debris for the beaches.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Hurricane Helene hits St. Pete business owners twice

    Hurricane Helene hits St. Pete business owners twice

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    ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — Imagine being hit by the same storm twice. Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on our beach communities right before it caused catastrophic damage in other states like South Carolina.

    What You Need To Know

    • The owners of The Helm restaurant on St. Pete Beach got hit there first by Helene, and then again in South Carolina at their second restaurant
    • It took days to get their South Carolina restaurant back open and to safely get back down to St. Pete Beach, where they found extensive damage


    The owners of The Helm restaurant on St. Pete Beach got hit there first and then again in South Carolina at their second restaurant.

    How long does it take a storm surge to fill a St. Pete Beach restaurant? It’s not a question co-owner Heidi Butler ever thought she would get the answer to.

    “It happened so fast. It was like within a few hours,” Butler said. “Everything in here was floating. The refrigerators were floating. The furniture was floating.”

    With her husband Michael by her side, she watched surveillance video in real time as their nautical themed restaurant took on feet of water.

    “It was a very helpless feeling, you know,” she said.

    That helplessness quickly shifted into survival mode after they realized hurricane Helene was now headed in their direction.

    The South Carolina restaurant was also damaged by Helene. (The owners of The Helm restaurant on St. Pete Beach got hit there first by Helene. (Photo by co-owner Heidi Butler)

    “We expected to have some heavy rains and winds and that was about it, but it just started turning again,” said Heidi. “It’s like we were hurricane magnets at that point.”

    They felt like hurricane magnets because they were watching their St. Pete Beach restaurant flood while they were in South Carolina, setting up their brand-new restaurant there.

    “It’s in Greenville, South Carolina. It’s on a river and the river rose to a historical high because the eye of Helene came right through Greenville after it left here,” she said. “So, the river was over 21 feet. It didn’t come into our restaurant, but it came up to the lower deck we just built, and we lost power for like eight days.”

    It took days to get their South Carolina restaurant back open and to safely get back down to St. Pete Beach, where they found extensive damage.

    Like most people on the beach, they had to pause clean up until after Hurricane Milton.

    They’ve removed what they couldn’t salvage, such as the $50,000 worth of damaged equipment.

    But it’s the things they were able to hold on to that serve as reminders of what it took to open their restaurant. For the couple those constant confirmations shows them that even with the same storm hitting them twice, they’re taking the helm, headed to reopen as soon as they can.

    The restaurant has set up a fundraiser online and is planning a fundraising gala. They didn’t have flood insurance like most businesses here. But with help from the community, they’re hoping to be back open by the end of November.

    GoFundMe.com, or any other third-party online fundraiser, is not managed by Spectrum Bay News 9 or Spectrum News 13. For more information on how GoFundMe works and its rules, visit http://www.gofundme.com/safety.

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    Saundra Weathers

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  • Pasco County launches online debris collection map

    Pasco County launches online debris collection map

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Pasco County Government announced that it is offering an online debris management map to highlight the debris removal progress throughout the county following hurricanes Milton and Helene.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pasco County Government is offering an online debris management map to highlight the debris removal progress following hurricanes Milton and Helene

    • The map will show estimated debris collection times and locations

    • Currently, the county has collected more than 159,000 cubic yards of debris – enough to fill about 50 Olympic-sized swimming pools, officials said

    • View the debris collection map below


    The map will show estimated debris collection times and locations. Officials said the map is interactive and is updated in real time, so residents can get accurate information about debris pickup.

    Currently, the county has collected more than 159,000 cubic yards of debris – enough to fill about 50 Olympic-sized swimming pools, officials said.

    Residents are also encouraged to bring storm debris to one of the county’s debris drop-off locations:

    Fees for debris disposal are waived until further notice. Those who are dropping off will be asked to show ID with proof of Pasco County residency.

    View the debris collection map below:

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • City of St. Pete Beach asks for volunteers to help clean beaches post Milton

    City of St. Pete Beach asks for volunteers to help clean beaches post Milton

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    ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — In hopes of getting the beaches safe and back open as quickly as possible, the city of St. Pete Beach is asking for volunteers to help in a series of beach cleanups.

    The second cleanup of the series is set for Thursday, Oct. 24 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. behind the Bellweather Beach Resort on 52nd Ave. W. There will be a third cleanup on Sunday, Oct. 27 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m at 4700 Gulf Blvd.

    What You Need To Know

    • Cleanup happening Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m behind the Bellweather Beach Resort

    • Next cleanup scheduled for Sunday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m at 4700 Gulf Blvd.

    • To date, the city of St. Pete has collected 87,507 cubic yards of debris and placed it at Egan Park

    • More than 22,000 tons have been taken from Egan Park to landfill over the last few days 


    Three more are also scheduled for the following Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at different locations along St. Pete Beach.

    If you’re interested in volunteering, you’re asked to show up at the designated location and time, and to sign in at the tent. Please wear gloves and close-toed shoes. Carpooling is encouraged as parking is limited, and water will be available to refill water bottles. Any additional questions can be directed to the city at volunteer@stpetebeach.org and last-minute changes will be posted to https://www.stpetebeach.org/.

    The city of St. Pete Beach also provided an update on debris removal efforts. To date, more than 87,000 cubic yards of debris have been collected and staged at Egan Park. The area was used as a temporary dump site as trash and debris were pulled from neighborhood streets.

    Bob Zahn, who lives across the street from Egan Park, says he’s concerned about the size of the pile and what could be inside.


    “Well what about all this mold that’s in here?,” he said. “Isn’t that creating an air problem? Is it safe to be breathing this stuff for weeks now? I don’t know.”

    Zahn says contractors began using Egan Park as a dump site shortly before Hurricane Milton. While it grew for a number of days, he says now crews are working to haul away the debris pile.

    “They have hauled away so much stuff just in the last 24 hours… they’ve done a heck of a job,” he said.

    The city of St. Pete Beach says as of this week, they have hauled more than 22,000 tons of debris from Egan Park to the landfill.

    The debris hauler contracted by the city estimates that a “first pass” of all residences will be complete by Saturday, Nov. 16.

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    Angie Angers

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  • Pumps installed to help with flooding near Lake Bonny

    Pumps installed to help with flooding near Lake Bonny

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers installed pumps in Lake Bonny Wednesday to help ease flooding in nearby neighborhoods.

    Homes in the area were still underwater two weeks after Hurricane Milton dropped massive amounts of rain on the area.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pumps installed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are meant to move water from Lake Bonny to a tributary of the Peace River

    • The goal is to reduce flooding to neighborhoods near Lake Bonny, where some homes were still underwater as of Wednesday

    • One resident said he’ll be happy to see water levels drop, but noted the move was too little, too late for some people whose homes were badly damaged

    • PREVIOUS COVERAGE: ‘We have nowhere to live’: Lake Bonny residents voice frustrations over flooding


    “Purpose for this is to lower the lake so that the water that’s currently impacting the community will recede back into Lake Bonny and take those water levels down to where they can begin their recovery process,” said Major Matthew Westcott, deputy commander of the Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

    Westcott said the corps received a call Tuesday from the Southwest Florida Water Management District asking for help in the area. He said pumps will move water from the lake to a tributary of the Peace River about 9,000 ft. away.

    “There’s a lot of water here to move. I brought the biggest pumps that I have on stock here. That should be enough to start moving that water as quickly as possible,” Westcott said.

    “It’s a huge relief to be able to do something as drastic as necessary,” said Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz, who came out to watch corps members work Wednesday afternoon. 

    Mutz said the effort was made possible through collaboration among city departments and other partners, including City Manager Shawn Sherrouse, Public Works Director Heath Frederick and his team, and Florida Rep. Jennifer Canady.

    “What we have happening here is a solution that everybody’s weighed in on and says, ‘This can happen. This can work, and we can not threaten something else downstream,’” Mutz said.

    For some impacted by the flooding, the arrival of the pumps brought up mixed emotions.

    “I’m grateful for the response that the city did make. However, the other side of me standing in front of my house that’s still sitting in water — we’re on day number 13 here, okay? And I’m sorry, but too little, too late,” said Chad Smith.

    Smith and his wife, Pamela, told Spectrum News Milton left their home near Lake Bonny uninhabitable, filled with flood water and sewage. They were among the residents who pleaded for help from leaders at a city commission meeting Monday. 

    “There are no words to verbalize to your friends, family and loved ones to say exactly how it’s like,” Smith said.

    He said his family found out Wednesday their homeowners insurance claim was denied. They don’t have flood insurance, and Smith said he’s not sure what comes next.

    “I got that woman right there and that daughter right there that I have to provide for,” he said, gesturing to his family. “I have to be the man of the house and say, ‘Look, it’s horrible circumstances, horrible situations, but I need to find a way to find a home for my family and figure out how to rebuild this one.’”

    The Smiths said they’re also frustrated the city didn’t respond sooner to concerns about an emergency pump in the area. Commissioners previously told Spectrum News a pump moving water from Lake Bonny to Lake Parker was working, just not as effectively as needed. Going forward, Smith said he’d like to see the city come up with a more solid solution for flooding and make other changes to help neighbors.

    “How about we let the citizens know that topographically, you are going to flood in a catastrophic event? And that means you should carry flood insurance and you should be in a flood plain,” Smith said. “If we would have known that as citizens, we would have been better prepared for this tragedy.”

    Westcott said residents should begin to see results from the pumps on Thursday or Friday.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • “Milton Pass” gaping waterway formed by Hurricane Milton’s storm surge, winds

    “Milton Pass” gaping waterway formed by Hurricane Milton’s storm surge, winds

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    A new pass in Englewood has been formed by Hurricane Milton’s strong winds and storm surge, according to The Weather Channel.The storm cut a new pass through a barrier island, which happened two weeks after Helene ripped open Midnight Pass on Siesta Key, The Weather Channel wrote. Meteorologist Matt Devitt said that Hurricane Helene started the path and Hurricane Milton finished it. The pass is about 8 to 10 feet deep, he said. Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida’s west coast on Oct. 9 as a Category 3 storm, leaving behind a trail of destruction.Related: Hurricane Milton ravaged one of the most popular areas for ‘snowbirds’ on Florida’s Gulf Coast

    CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. —

    A new pass in Englewood has been formed by Hurricane Milton’s strong winds and storm surge, according to The Weather Channel.

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    The storm cut a new pass through a barrier island, which happened two weeks after Helene ripped open Midnight Pass on Siesta Key, The Weather Channel wrote.

    Meteorologist Matt Devitt said that Hurricane Helene started the path and Hurricane Milton finished it. The pass is about 8 to 10 feet deep, he said.

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    Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida’s west coast on Oct. 9 as a Category 3 storm, leaving behind a trail of destruction.

    Related: Hurricane Milton ravaged one of the most popular areas for ‘snowbirds’ on Florida’s Gulf Coast

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  • Manatee County launches online debris collection map

    Manatee County launches online debris collection map

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Manatee County has created a debris collection map to help residents identify designated debris removal routes and nearby drop-off sites following hurricanes Milton and Helene.

    What You Need To Know

    • Manatee County has created a debris collection map to help residents identify designated debris removal routes and nearby drop-off sites following hurricanes Milton and Helene

    • Residents of the city of Anna Maria, the city of Bradenton, the city of Bradenton Beach, the city of Holmes Beach, the city of Palmetto, the town of Longboat Key, and Trailer Estates must contact their respective utilities departments for storm debris removal information

    • View the debris removal map below


    Removal teams are transporting debris to temporary locations throughout the county to ensure efficient removal from the county’s neighborhoods.

    For curbside pickup, the county is asking residents to separate debris from regular garbage and into the following three categories:

    • Vegetative (e.g., tree branches)
    • Construction/Demolition (e.g., building materials, fencing, furniture, mattresses)
    • Appliances/White Goods

    Debris should be placed at least 3 feet away from structures such as mailboxes, vehicles, and backflow prevention assemblies. Do not place debris in bags, officials said.

    Residents of the city of Anna Maria, the city of Bradenton, the city of Bradenton Beach, the city of Holmes Beach, the city of Palmetto, the town of Longboat Key, and Trailer Estates must contact their respective utilities departments for storm debris removal information. 

    View the debris removal map below:

     

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Polk County residents grow weary of hurricane debris pickup

    Polk County residents grow weary of hurricane debris pickup

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — While debris pickup is underway in parts of Polk County, residents living on Pineville Lane are growing weary.

    What You Need To Know

    • Piles of debris still linger on the curb of Pineville Lane in Lakeland

    • Residents says the debris has taken an emotional toll on him and his neighbors

    • Polk County has several debris pickup and drop off options to ensure roads are clean


    Piles of clothes and furniture still linger on neighbors’ curbs, some just outside of Michael Caudy’s door.

    “I have anxiety issues, and this makes it a lot worse because I see that stuff. I just don’t like it,” he said.

    Caudy said water from a nearby creek flooded his home during Hurricane Milton, destroying most of his belongings, including his Bibles.

    “I had all kinds of religious books, and they’re all gone. It really plays mind tricks on you,” Caudy said.

    Now, he and his neighbors must relive their loss every time they step outside.

    “It’s about time they come and pick it all up because it hurts all of us to look out there and see all of our stuff out in the road,” Caudy said. “I thought they would pick it up by now.”

    Polk County officials say the goal is to have all storm debris picked up by Nov. 24. Their focus is to pick up debris from the most heavily damaged areas first, then move to other parts of the county.

    To ensure everything gets removed, they advise residents to separate their debris into the following categories:

    • Vegetative debris: unbagged leaves, logs, plants, and tree branches

    • Construction and demolition debris: building materials, carpet, drywall, furniture, lumber, mattresses, plumbing, etc.

    • Appliances: A/C units, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, etc.

    • Electronics: televisions, computers, etc.

    • Household hazardous waste: cleaning supplies, batteries, paints, pesticides, etc.

    Residents also have the option of dropping off debris at the following locations:

    • Polk County’s North Central Transfer Station, 3131 K-Ville Ave., Auburndale, Fla., 33823

    •  Polk County Strickland Avenue, 5901 Strickland Ave., Lakeland, Fla., 33812

    •  Polk County Marigold, 9500 Marigold Ave., Poinciana, Fla., 34759

    As for Caudy, he’s unable to travel far or lift much with his walker. In the meantime, he said he’ll just wait at home for crews to arrive.

    “If they would just pick that stuff up, everybody would be much happier,” he said.

    For additional information on how to dispose of debris and residential waste, visit the Polk County’s website.

    Keep track of debris pickup in Polk County with the debris removal map below.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Residents hopeful pumps will alleviate Lake Bonny neighborhood flooding

    Residents hopeful pumps will alleviate Lake Bonny neighborhood flooding

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is sending industrial pumps to Lakeland to help clear floodwaters that remain in the Lake Bonny area of Lakeland.

    The first of the pumps is expected to arrive Wednesday.


    This comes after a heated meeting Monday between residents and city leaders.

    According to a public notice from Communications Director Kevin Cook, Lakeland obtained a permit from the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) to construct and operate an emergency pump to increase water flow from Lake Bonny to Lake Parker. While city commissioners assure the pump is working, they acknowledge it’s not operating as effectively as needed.

    “There are two parts: where it’s being pumped to can only handle so much, and that’s going to keep the water from flowing back,” Commissioner Mike Musick said. “And the other thing is just debris from the storm. We had a hurricane blowing all over the place, so being out there all the time — just like a pool — you’ve got to screen it, then re-screen it, and then re-screen it.”

    However, Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz said the flooding has reached beyond what the pump can address.

    “To be as drastic as necessary, we have to do something that requires much more pumping in that area,” he said.

    The floodwaters still remain, two weeks after Hurricane Milton moved through the region.

    But homeowners in the area said the flooding problems started in August, adding that water crept closer to their homes during Hurricanes Debby and Helene. Then Milton hit, dropping more than 10 inches on Lakeland.

    Homeowners said city officials failed to act.

    “What has to happen?” asked resident Diana Hoagland. “Who has to get hurt? Who has to be sick? There is sewage in that water. There is sewage in people’s homes. The water continued to rise for six days.”

    Mutz said there are a lot of decisions that need to be made and that the city shares the concerns of the residents.

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is delivering the pumps and 6,000 feet of piping from Hendry County at some point on Wednesday.

    Once it’s all in place, they’ll man the system 24 hours a day to make sure it’s working safely.

    Officials said it will remain in place until the job is done.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • MLB wants Rays to play in the area if hurricane-damaged stadium is unfit

    MLB wants Rays to play in the area if hurricane-damaged stadium is unfit

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Major League Baseball hopes to find the Tampa Bay Rays a temporary home near their fanbase at least for the start of the 2025 season if the damage to Tropicana Field from Hurricane Milton cannot be repaired in time.

    The translucent fiberglass dome at the ballpark in St. Petersburg was shredded by Milton’s winds, leaving its immediate future in doubt. A number of spring training sites around the Tampa Bay area have been suggested as temporary homes, and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said the league wants a location in the region if possible.

    “We’re hopeful that we can figure out something in (the Tampa Bay area) for them and that the repairs can be done in a way that allows them to resume playing,” Manfred said on a recent episode of The Varsity podcast.

    “The easiest thing is always to stay in the market where the clubs are anchored, if we can manage it,” he said.

    The Rays have played at Tropicana Field since their inaugural 1998 season, although the building was constructed in 1990. The hurricane damage comes a few months after the city of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County approved a new $1.3 billion ballpark in an adjacent location that would open in the 2028 season, part of a much larger downtown revitalization project.

    The city has hired the Hennessy/AECOM firm to do a complete analysis of the Tropicana Field damage and contracted with another company to remove the remaining roof material, said St. Petersburg spokeswoman Alizza Punzalan-Randle. The city has also filed a claim with its insurance carrier, she said.

    “We will have more information on next steps once the analyses have been completed and the remaining roof has been removed,” Punzalan-Randle said.

    City Council member Brandi Gabbard said she expected the analysis by the first week of November.

    “At that point we will have a better picture of the path forward,” Gabbard said.

    So, where would the Rays go if the Trop isn’t ready on opening day of 2025?

    Suggestions have included local-area spring training sites used by the Phillies, Blue Jays, Yankees, Pirates and Tigers. A bit further away is the Rays’ own spring training complex in Port Charlotte, about 85 miles (136 kilometers) south of St. Petersburg. Another option may be the ballpark at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports complex near Orlando.

    Most of those ballpark options host minor league teams after spring training ends, which could prompt significant adjustments to minor league team schedules. One way around that would be to play at the Orioles’ spring training site in Sarasota, which does not have a minor league team.

    There has also been talk of the Rays sharing the Miami Marlins’ stadium, but that would be a major scheduling challenge and about a four-hour drive from St. Petersburg. A previous proposal to have the Rays play some home games in Montreal resurfaced, but the stadium there is undergoing renovation and would not be ready for next season.

    The Rays declined comment Tuesday and have had said only that it could take weeks “to assess the true condition of Tropicana Field.” Playing there without a roof is another idea, but the Trop doesn’t have the drainage systems necessary in such a rain-prone location.

    Another factor to consider is how much money should be spent to repair a facility that will be torn down for the new ballpark in a few years.

    The Rays’ opening “home” game against the Colorado Rockies is scheduled for March 27, 2025, and Manfred said MLB, the team and other entities will come up with a solution.

    “The one thing I can tell you for sure, they’re playing next year. We’re going to find them someplace to do it,” Manfred said on the podcast.

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  • Burns, other state House speakers seeking federal disaster relief for hurricane damage

    Burns, other state House speakers seeking federal disaster relief for hurricane damage

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    ATLANTA – State House speakers in six Southeastern states affected by three hurricanes in recent months – including Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns – sent a letter to congressional leaders Monday asking for disaster relief funds.

    Significant portions of Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee sustained heavy damage from hurricanes Debbie, Helene, and Milton, devastating communities and farms.

    In a letter to U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the state legislative leaders suggested Congress send block grants to the affected states, as was done following Hurricane Michael in 2018.

    “Timely delivery of disaster assistance is extremely important as farmers will be unable to secure financing for planting next year’s crop without this support,” the letter stated. “The groundwork Congress laid after Hurricane Michael was extremely beneficial through providing block grants to the affected states.”

    The letter also asked Congress to provide a special supplemental appropriation through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that could be used to help states with long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure, housing, and economic development.

    A third request seeks funding through the Federal Highway Administration to rebuild roads and bridges destroyed along the paths of the hurricanes.

    “These historic storms have left countless citizens, farmers, and businesses facing generational impacts on their way of life and the places they call home,” said Burns, R-Newington. “This aid will be critical to ensuring the timely assistance of our most heavily impacted states.”

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    Dave Williams and Capitol Beat News Service

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  • Hillsborough County launches online debris collection map, drop-off site

    Hillsborough County launches online debris collection map, drop-off site

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough County has created a debris collection map to help residents identify designated debris removal routes and nearby drop-off sites following hurricanes Milton and Helene.

    What You Need To Know

    • Hillsborough County has created a debris collection map and opened a temporary debris drop-off site

    • The map is a tool to help residents identify designated debris removal routes and nearby drop-off sites following hurricanes Milton and Helene, officials said

    • County officials said residents can also use the debris collection with finding the status of collection efforts in their area

    • For a full list of debris collection sites, visit the county’s trash and recycling website


    County officials said residents can also use the debris collection with finding the status of collection efforts in their area.

    All collection efforts are estimated to be completed by Nov. 17.

    The county has opened a new, temporary debris drop-off site as well.

    Residents can discard debris at the Southeast County Landfill, open to the public from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice.

    The site will accept yard waste, as well as construction and demolition debris. Residents must present a photo ID showing the residential address of the property owner and a printed or digital copy of their current property tax bill.

    For a full list of debris collection sites, visit the county’s trash and recycling website.

     

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Bay area residents in underserved communities have few options post-hurricanes

    Bay area residents in underserved communities have few options post-hurricanes

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Communities all over the Tampa Bay area are struggling after the recent hurricanes.

    The storm damage and displacement is a huge blow for people already living in low-income and underserved communities. That’s the reality in south St. Petersburg’s Bartlett Park neighborhood.

    What You Need To Know

    • Hurricane Helene and Milton’s aftermath is a huge blow for people already living in low-income and underserved communities

    • South St. Petersburg’s Bartlett Park neighborhood suffered damages from both storms, from flooding to damaged roofs

    • Some landlords said they’re allowing residents to break their leases and return their deposits due to the storm’s impacts, but it brings little relief to resident Gregory Ruffin and his wife

    • City officials said FEMA has visited the complex, assisting people to move, but some residents say that hasn’t happened for them yet


    It’s a familiar story in the neighborhood. Hurricane Helene flooded the first-floor homes in one apartment complex. Then, Milton flooded the area and damaged the roofs.

    For the people in the Lakeside apartments, that means the affordable housing they desperately need is gone.

    Parts of the roof are on the ground, flood damaged cars are in the parking lot, and piles of debris are scattered around the front of buildings.

    Sadly, it’s where Gregory Ruffin calls home. The apartment he shares with his wife is livable for now. At least for them, it has to be.

    “We’ve just been living in here until we find somewhere to go,” Ruffin said.

    Flood waters from Hurricane Helene are the cause for most of the damage. The waterline inside is as high as the doorknobs. Hurricane Milton’s impacts only added to it.

    “I had a nice apartment. The cabinets, as you can see, they (swelled) up. I don’t know if you can open the back one up,” he said.

    Ruffin managed to clean up his apartment as best he can, but the mold is growing along with the discovery of even more water damage.

    “My sofas were floating, and it got damaged too, but I took pillows out there in the sun and let them dry, and turned the sofas on end and whatever water was on the bottom part of it ran down, and I put the fan on it, and I flipped them up the other way,” said Ruffin.

    He’s on a fixed income and desperate to save what he can.

    “I had to retire because I had prostate cancer surgery. Got that taken care of, but I had other issues. I had to get off the road. I paved roads all around this place. That was my job,” he said.

    With his home destroyed and not many affordable housing options, he’s now trying to get his old job back.

    “The first and last month’s rent. That’s what kills you. If I got rent money, the first and last they throw that in there, and that blows you right out the water. They don’t show compassion,” he said.

    Compassion is what he’s hoping for, but a safe place to stay is what he desperately needs.  

    “I can’t do but so much, man. Hurting, sick. I’m trying but (I’m not) giving up, God is good,” Ruffin said.

    Ruffin’s landlord at Times Square Properties said they’re allowing residents to break their leases and return their deposits. But it brings little relief to Ruffin and his wife.

    When asked what they were doing to help underserved communities, the city of St. Pete said they were offering a list of local programs. City officials also said FEMA has visited the complex, encouraging people to move, because they were providing them with assistance. Some residents say that hasn’t happened for them yet.

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    Saundra Weathers

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