Affected Florida Counties Urged to Accelerate Debris Cleanup

Plans submitted to the department will be posted publicly on its website. All of the plans must include an estimated date of completion, and any county that plans to request reimbursement for debris removal following Irma must submit a plan.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott ordered all of the state's counties that were affected by Hurricane Irma to submit a detailed debris cleanup plan to the Florida Division of Emergency Management by noon on Sept. 19.

He noted that debris cleanup must be accomplished so other restoration efforts, such as restoring electrical power to residents and businesses, aren't hindered by the presence of debris.

Plans submitted to the department will be posted publicly on its website. All of the plans must include an estimated date of completion, and any county that plans to request reimbursement for debris removal following Irma must submit a plan.

"Today, I am directing every Florida county impacted by Hurricane Irma to submit a detailed debris cleanup plan no later than noon tomorrow, September 19th. Let me be clear – debris removal is a function handled and directed at the local level and, following a storm like Irma, it is my expectation that every county immediately and aggressively begins work to clear debris in its communities. That is what Florida families and businesses expect," Scott said Sept. 18. "Every county should already have a debris cleanup plan in place as part of its emergency response plan, and it should already be executed. Any county experiencing issues with the vendors involved in debris cleanup should immediately execute an emergency procurement to get a different vendor. Today, more than 370,000 homes and businesses in Florida are still without power and, while utility companies are working non-stop to turn the lights on, the presence of debris can hinder work and delay restoration, which is unacceptable. Within seven hours of the storm leaving the state, the Florida Department of Transportation had cleared all major interstates and turnpikes. DOT has been working around the clock to clear all state and many local roads and assist in recovery efforts. As we all work to recover from Irma, the state stands ready to assist communities in any way possible."

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