Treasure Island has completed removing more than 128,000 tons of storm debris following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which struck the area in close succession one year ago.

The cleanup process took approximately six months and cost just over $2 million, according to Assistant Public Works Director Jeffrey Agrall. The city spent $136,544 after Hurricane Helene and $1.96 million after Hurricane Milton.

City officials faced significant challenges as the two storms hit too close together to fully clear debris before Milton arrived. Debris at a community park used as a FEMA-designated debris management site reached three to four stories high, requiring machinery to compact the materials before Milton made landfall.

“Because the storm continued into the Carolinas, the crews were spread thin,” Agrall said, noting limited contractor availability delayed the process.

Haulers transported debris to distant waste management sites in St. Petersburg and Clearwater, with traffic disruptions further complicating operations. The State of Florida eventually deployed 50 dump trucks to accelerate removal.

After debris removal, crews turned the soil to eliminate glass fragments before replanting grass and reopening the park. Aside from a demolished pavilion, the park has largely been restored.

The city is now seeking FEMA reimbursement for the costs. Neighboring St. Pete Beach, which spent approximately $4.6 million on debris removal, has received 84% reimbursement to date and expects full reimbursement in the coming months.

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(Image credit: Fox Weather)

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