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Piles of Matthew debris waiting for pick up in Martin County, clean up could take 6 weeks

Posted at 8:00 PM, Oct 21, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-21 23:37:18-04
Two weeks after Hurricane Matthew, some Martin County residents are still dealing with its effects. The damage is cleaned up, but not cleared out.
 
The county has hired independent contractors to pick up 60,000 cubic yards of storm debris still piled up in parts of the county. The clean up process could take up to 6 weeks. 
 
If you drive through parts of southern Martin County, chances are it looks like Hurricane Matthew just came through this week. 

"We can't use the sidewalk in front of our house," said one woman who wants to remain anonymous. 
 
The woman says she had nowhere else to put three trunks and branches from a large oak tree that uprooted in her yard during the storm. Her mailbox and sidewalk are still buried in storm debris two weeks later. 
 
"Initially I believe they said typically it was 1 to 10 business days for pick up," she said.
 
Now it could take up to six weeks for the remaining debris to be picked up. Contractors started in the hardest hit areas of the Northeast part of the county and are working their way south and west. In a Jupiter neighborhood near The Moorings, residents say the piled up vegetation at the edge of the road isn't only an eye sore, it's a hazard. 
 
"It's an annoyance, but what are you going to do," said a resident. 
 
Garbage and recycling pick ups are on schedule. To see an interactive map of the areas that still have storm debris pick ups click here. To get updated Hurricane debris information, call the county's hotline at 772--288-5658.