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Hurricane Matthew debris cleanup in St. Johns County halfway done, officials say

St. Johns County officials said it could take several weeks for crews to get through the entire county the first time around to clean up debris left by Hurricane Matthew.

In the Porpoise Point neighborhood of Vilano Beach, some streets still have tall piles of tree limbs, garbage and other storm debris left by Hurricane Matthew.

Action News Jax got exclusive access to Simms Pit in West Saint Augustine on Wednesday.

It’s one of six sites in the county where large machines are delivering and grinding up massive piles of trees and other storm debris.

“I would say we are 50 percent cleaned up,” St. Johns County engineering manager Greg Caldwell said.

Caldwell said it could be mid-November before crews are able to make their first pass through the entire county.

Caldwell said crews have worked 12-hour shifts seven days a week since Oct. 10.

“Patience, we appreciate everyone’s patience,” Caldwell said. “We're working with people who lost their homes first to expedite.”

“I understand there is process, but come on, its been three weeks,” Vilano Beach resident Rick Hodgkins said.

Officials estimate it will cost the county $7-8 million for the cleanup with FEMA reimbursing 87 percent of the cost.

For more information from St. Johns County on the cleanup, visit http://www.sjcfl.us/hurricanematthewcleanup/