Local

Cleanup will takes months in Clay County after Irma

Officials say in order to help the cleanup process, Clay County residents have to separate the trash from any vegetative storm debris that might be left over from Hurricane Irma.

Regular garbage disposal services and contracted debris haulers are working to clean up Clay County. County leaders say the contracted crews for storm cleanup are working seven days a week from sunup to sundown.

“Today we have them in various locations around the county and they’re going to continue to work and unfortunately this is going to take months,” says John Ward of Clay County Emergency Management

Updates: Maria strengthens to a Category 4 hurricane

Because of the timeline for cleanup, neighbors in Clay say they know they have to be patient.

“The city just told us to sit it all by the street and that it would be a couple weeks before they start picking things up,” says a woman named Roberta.

The biggest thing neighbors can do to assist crews is to make sure your electronics are set aside from the storm debris from the regular trash.

“It can all be piled by the side of the road, they’re going to get to it, but it must stay separated. If it's mixed together they will not pick it up,” says Ward.

There are five different kinds of trash officials would like you to separate in order to help the cleanup process. The infographic has more information.