Cleanup of debris left by Hurricanes Helene and Milton at Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg started on Monday, over three months following the storms.

“This marks the first day of cleanup, primarily involving demolition and debris removal,” Rich Lesniak, the Airport Manager, told Bay News 9r. “Each time I see this, it’s still somewhat unbelievable to me.”

Lesniak explained that the delay in cleanup was due to the need to document damage for FEMA, secure funding, and obtain city council approval.

“Given the magnitude and cost, we had to wait for the initial assessments to conclude,” he noted. “The engineering team, along with the contractor, had to come out here to gather quotes and prepare.”

During the Jan. 9 city council meeting, pilot Will “Liam” Hawkins expressed frustration over the neglected state of the airport.

“We have old, jagged metal debris scattered across the airport. Thousands of pounds of it,” he commented. “Twisted I-beams, shattered glass, and aviation fuel contaminating documents and personal items in areas we can’t even access.”

The city council unanimously agreed to allocate nearly $1.2 million for the debris removal, with the work expected to finish before the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, scheduled for Feb. 28, which uses part of the airport’s runway and has stands set up on the airport premises.

“We anticipate this cleanup will be completed well before the race,” Lesniak said. “I think there’s a sense of relief among many, especially for those whose planes were stuck.”

Three large hangar buildings, housing 32 units, suffered severe damage. Inside these hangars, three planes and two helicopters were trapped for months; fortunately, only one plane sustained significant damage.

Lesniak added that while the debris in T-hangar buildings 5, 6, and 9 will be cleared before the Grand Prix, repairs to hangars 4, 7, 8, and 10 will follow a more extended timeline.

“That will involve a more detailed process for assessing damage and preparing for repairs,” he concluded.

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(Image credit: Josh Rojas/Spectrum News)