PORT RICHEY — The city faces a $3 million cleanup bill after back-to-back hurricanes, and locally it’s a rare street without most of some residents’ worldly belongings piled up curbside.

But the city is working as quickly as it can to clear the streets, City Manager Matthew Coppler said at the Oct. 22 City Council meeting.

Coppler said cleanup crews are working seven days a week and estimated the storms produced 50,000 cubic tons of debris. The city is removing up to 505 cubic yards, he said.

Coppler said that fee will keep Port Richey in compliance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s requirements, which must be met for the agency to reimburse costs, but not with the 45-day deadline the city imposed on itself.

“We know there is a lot of debris to pick up and a lot of frustration on many levels,” council member Linda Rodriguez posted on the We Make Sunshine Community Facebook page.

Rodriguez said the city has so far picked up 5,000 cubic yards of debris — a drop in the bucket compared to what needs to be done — using a contractor and municipal trucks. Urban trucks transport only 10 to 20 cubic meters of debris at a time. The contractor’s trucks have capacity for 160 people.

He said FEMA has recently paid $60,000 of the $96,000 it will reimburse Port Richey for cleanup after last year’s Hurricane Idalia.

“In order for us to get the money, we have to follow their rules,” he said.

Rodriguez said Port Richey has asked FEMA for an expedited plan, hoping to get 50% of the cost of this year’s cleanup upfront, which should help speed up the process.

“I know this is all hard when we drive around and see everyone’s kitchen tables, mattresses, dressers, everyone’s entire life sitting on the sidewalk,” she said. “In my 37 years in Port Richey, I have never seen this level of devastation. The City of Port Richey is doing everything possible to minimize the cost to us, the taxpayers. … Dealing with insurance companies, FEMA, and being reminded every minute that your life is on the sidewalk is mind-blowing. I can’t say “I’m sorry” enough. We will continue to work hard to fix it. “I promise.”

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