Tampa Bay’s debris is still here. When and how will it get picked up?

In Tampa Bay’s lowest lying areas, cherished possessions have sat along curbs in mountainous, soggy piles for weeks.

After Hurricane Helene’s record storm surge gushed into homes, ruining drywall, appliances and furniture, residents were forced to trash much of their belongings. And just days later, Hurricane Milton’s thrash near Tampa Bay added another layer of destruction.

Officials across Tampa Bay called the debris left behind by Helene and Milton — two major hurricanes — unprecedented.