Debris Piles Finally being Cleaned up on Marco Island

October 23, 2017 | Paddle Marco

It’s hard to believe Hurricane Irma hit Marco Island and Naples head only a month and-a-half ago. As residents still struggle to find roofers to repair their roofs and handymen to fix their broken pool lanais, progress is starting to be made in the yard waste and debris cleanup area. You may have noticed a major increase in those huge double trailer semi trucks driving around town. That’s because last week an influx of these trucks starting arriving in larger numbers. The 10 ft high piles of trees and debris on the sides of the roads, especially along the busy streets, are finally starting to disappear… leaving behind a big, ugly brown patch of grass and bits and crumbs of little debris.

A light at the end of the tunnel.

A big reason these debris piles are still around is because Ashbritt, Inc and other contracted FEMA certified clean-up trucks, got a 12 day late start due to some of the disposal sites being underwater. The good news is that these piles are scheduled to be 99% cleaned up by Thanksgiving (Nov 23rd), says Perkins, Ashbritt, Inc. Thanksgiving week is usually the 3rd busiest week on Marco Island, behind Christmas and Easter. Vacationers and snowbirds will soon be flocking to Marco Island to go jet skiing with Capt’ Ron’s Awesome Everglades Jet Ski Tours , or Avi’s Watersports Jet Ski Tours,  kayaking in the Mangrove tunnels with Paddle Marco and partying hard at Stan’s on Goodland.

Will season take a hit?

If Marco Island residents can hold out just 4 more weeks, most or all of these debris piles will be gone and life can start to return to normal on the island. Most hotels and resorts on Marco Island will be open by Thanksgiving except the Hilton Beach Resort and Spa, which now has delayed their opening to late March, 2018. It’s difficult to say whether or not Marco Island’s 2018 season will take a hit from Hurricane Irma, but at the rate things are being cleaned up and businesses are opening… we think everything will be just fine by Mid November.

If you’re looking to support local tourism businesses, especially before season hits, check out The Marco Review Magazine.