04-06-2025
‘Debris presents risks': Debris piles remain from Hurricane Milton at Lakeland retirement community
LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — For the first time in two months, and at the start of a new hurricane season, the city of Lakeland picked up debris from Hurricane Milton at The Estates at Carpenters.
What caused the delay and what will happen in the future are still unclear.
'With the population that we serve, debris presents risk,' said Brian Robare, CEO and executive director at The Estates of Carpenters. 'Depending on the strength of the storm, it also can have projectiles and damage to buildings and cars, and most of all, people.'
The Estates at Carpenters is a continuing care retirement community in Lakeland that houses over 400 senior citizens, most over the age of 85.
Robare said not a meeting goes by without residents expressing concerns about the piles of debris that remain from Hurricane Milton.
One of the residents contacted 8 On Your Side with concerns about safety.
'I am never surprised with what our residents do. It's a large enough concern, and they know from this standpoint it's not us,' said Robare.
Robare said the city of Lakeland has, since at least Hurricane Charley in 2004, picked up hurricane debris from a designated spot inside the community.
Records from the city show nine debris pickups at The Estates at Carpenters between February 3rd and April 1st, with 184 cubic yards collected.
But as of June 3rd, piles of debris remain.
The city's communications director, Kevin Cook, said FEMA regulations require debris pickup on public right of way, not on private property.
'Have you been told that?' asked 8 On Your Side reporter Staci DaSilva.
'No, we have not. That would be wonderful information to have whenever we first filed the form with the city,' said Robare.
After calls from 8 On Your Side, Robare said the city picked up at least two loads of debris Tuesday afternoon.
'Not only would we like this issue addressed, we'd like to know what the city would like us to do in future storms,' said Robare.
Confusion remains over whether debris collection from the City of Lakeland on private property is a paid-for service and where the debris should be left.
'If you look at the way the road in front of our campus, which is Carpenters Way, runs, there would be no place to put the amount of debris that we had after this or any other hurricane,' said Robare.
Kevin Cook said he would 'get to the bottom of the issue.'
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