Debris Removal

After the hurricanes of 2024, St. Armands residences (and businesses) had piles of flooded household items and building materials on the curbs at the front of the properties. 

These piles remained for weeks until FEMA contractors were able to show up.  The bulldozers damaged the landscaping in front of homes and left broken glass and other fragments behind. 

Many properties got passed by altogether because they couldn't meet the FEMA requirements for distinct piles of debris with three feet of separation between each pile and between other obstacles (per the image below).  Our lots are generally too small with very little frontage, with only three feet of space between the curb and sidewalk (not 10 feet as shown), and trees, mailboxes, and city signs that all get in the way.  Not to mention the sheer quantity of debris resulting from several feet of flooding inside so many of our homes.

In the weeks before the FEMA contractors showed up, there was an endless parade of people in cars driving through our residential streets and picking through the debris piles.  Vehicles paused in front of driveways and their occupants looked up driveways and into open garages.  Residents were left with an uncomfortable and unsafe feeling, and there was at least one report of items left in a driveway to dry out being taken.

Contractors passing through from Longboat Key or other places to the north were observed adding their own debris to the piles in front of St. Armands homes, and they did not respect the requirements for unique piles of debris, no plastic bags, etc...  This created additional work and expense for St. Armands home owners.

Once regular city trash pickup resumed, the city would only take two bulk items per week.  But, if a resident had three large items on the curb, the city would leave them all instead of taking away two of them.  This seemed especially silly since so many houses were unoccupied following the 2024 hurricanes.

Many residents ended up having to hire their own debris removal contractors.