Dedicated Response Team Leads Storm Debris Pickup Following Back-to-Back Hurricanes

Back-to-back hurricanes present significant challenges relating to storm debris pickup. Those leading the recovery efforts know this firsthand. Fortunately, in Orange County a team of dedicated "hurricane heroes" swiftly restored safety, accessibility, and beauty back to the community in just about 60 days following Hurricane Milton.

Ralphetta Aker, Manager, Orange County Public Works Fiscal & Operational Support, is pleased that they reached substantial completion and attributes the successful timeline to a well-coordinated plan and a seasoned response team.

"We are fortunate to have a team with 20-plus years of experience, plus debris removal contractors who are leaders in the field," Aker said. "They understand the process and have knowledge of what needs to be done."

That collaborative process begins immediately following a storm when Public Works crews monitor streets to assess high impact areas, review satellite images, and gather data. Key contractors are then deployed for a second assessment, and within 48 hours they decide where to mobilize trucks to resolve issues starting in the hardest hit areas.

Support from many county departments, including Orange County Utilities, and external experts was key to expediting debris removal and monitoring.

"The contractors and subcontractors were our hands and feet on the ground," she said. "On any given day at the height of the process, we had 20 to 25 crews throughout the county - with 50 to 60 trucks."

A few facts about the massive amount of debris removed by both local and regional subcontractors:

• Cleared more than 2,300 miles of roadways – the distance from Orlando to San Francisco
• Removed some 200,000 cubic yards of vegetative debris – enough to fill 61 Olympic-size swimming pools

Aker is grateful to the community for its patience and cooperation throughout the process. As the next hurricane season approaches, she hopes to improve overall communication with residents and educate new Orange County residents on preparedness and preventative maintenance to lessen the impact.

She advises residents to inspect fencing, pool enclosures, and roofs, as well as proactive yard maintenance like pruning trees and removing dead brush before storm season.

Her team is at the ready for 2025.

“We work for blue sky days for gray sky events,” she quipped.

Storm debris collection has ended, but for more information about regular vegetative waste collection, visit ocfl.net/greenclean.