In the fall of 2024, the City of Tampa and surrounding counties faced an unprecedented challenge with back-to-back Hurricanes Helene and Milton making landfall in a 10-day period. The compounded impact created a debris management scenario far beyond typical hurricane response, testing the limits of the city's emergency preparedness, operational capacity, and interagency coordination. This presentation will provide an in-depth look at how the Solid Waste Department navigated this complex crisis using a resilient, adaptive approach rooted in planning and continuous improvement to manage the massive amounts of debris created by the storms.

Drawing on lessons from past storm events, the City of Tampa Solid Waste Department activated a pre-established debris response framework that emphasized real-time decision-making, contractor readiness, and community communication. Despite the storms’ compounded effects, the department managed the collection and processing of over 1 million cubic yards of vegetative and construction debris while maintaining FEMA compliance and public trust.

Key topics include pre-storm staging of equipment and personnel, zone-based prioritization strategies, and the use of GIS and mobile technology for field data tracking. Attendees will gain insight into how Tampa’s emergency and solid waste teams collaborated seamlessly with contracted haulers, private vendors, and regional partners to prevent bottlenecks and maintain momentum in debris removal efforts. The session will also explore post-event evaluation findings including performance metrics, operational challenges, and improvements made as a result of the two events. Special emphasis will be placed on adaptive planning — how the city adjusted its logistics, communications, and workforce deployment to better respond to hurricanes Helene and Milton. This presentation offers valuable takeaways for municipalities, solid waste leaders, and emergency planners facing the potential for consecutive disasters. Tampa’s experience demonstrates that resilience is not just about having a plan — it’s about having the agility to adjust that plan in real time while maintaining clear communication, community confidence, and operational excellence.