Tampa

October 28, 2024

News: Volunteers help crews with hurricane clean-up in Tampa

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

TAMPA, FL – Tampa residents are stepping up to aid city crews with the hurricane debris clean-up process, as several showed up for a clean-up event hosted by the city this past Saturday.

WFLA said that volunteers spent their time cleaning out homes, removing debris from yards, cutting drywall, and doing other tasks to aid with the recovery process.

Tampa crews have been working around the clock, specifically seven days a week, to try and restore the city back to its original state as part of an initiative from the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), which states that cities in Florida must pursue clean up efforts for the first first “90 days or until debris mission is complete.” So help from volunteers, like locals Dmytro Baumann and Lauren Middleton, who have been volunteering for a couple of weekends, have truly streamlined the clean-up procedure.

October 22, 2024

News: GEM helps Tampa residents find relief after Helene, Milton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

TAMPA, FL – Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) is one organization stepping up to help local Tampa residents recover after hurricanes Helene and Milton.

On Friday, more than 60 semi-trucks went around providing food, water, pet kits in Hillsborough, Sarasota, Taylor, and Levy counties, where residents are still facing power outages and displacement, according to an X post from Global Empowerment Mission and a report from WHSV.

The organization works to provide a wide range of materials that include drywall, doors, and mattresses.

October 17, 2024

News: Tampa crews work 7 days a week to clean up Milton debris

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

TAMPA, FL – There are no days off for Tampa city crews who have to work seven days a week to get the city cleaned up after Hurricane Milton within a three-month span.

According to Fox 13 News, personnel have to clean up an estimated million cubic yards, or the size of “10,000 football fields full of debris,” as Tampa Mayor Jane Castor says.

The 90-day time limit was first prescribed by Governor Ron DeSantis, who then ordered the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) to create an emergency order. The emergency order states that Florida cities are to pursue hurricane cleanup efforts for the first “90 days or until debris mission is complete.”

October 11, 2024

News: Elderly woman fatally hit by downed branch after Hurricane Milton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

TAMPA, FL – A woman in her 70s died Thursday after being struck by a falling tree branch in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, which made landfall just the day before.

This incident occurred before 11 a.m. on North Nebraska Avenue, amid hurricane reconstruction efforts and the debris cleanup procedure, WFLA reports.

The woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, succumbed to her injuries at the scene before officers arrived. At this time, police believe this event was an accident but will continue their investigation and work to determine whether other factors played a part.

September 27, 2024

News: Sign falls on car amid storm, causing fatal wreck in Tampa

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

TAMPA, FL – A freeway sign fell into a moving vehicle on I-4 amid Hurricane Helene, causing a single-vehicle wreck which claimed the life of one passenger, a 23-year-old man, Thursday.

This collision happened before 8 p.m. at mile marker 4, WTSP reported.

Florida Highway Patrol said the young man perished at the scene while the driver, a 63-year-old man, and the two passengers, a 44-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man, were unharmed.

September 23, 2024

News: Man loses life after getting shot, crashing car into Tampa home

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

TAMPA, FL – Someone shot a man while he was driving, causing him to plow into a home on Courtland Street and later succumbing to fatal wounds Monday.

Tampa Police were made aware of the gunshots around 8 a.m. adjacent to East Osborne Avenue, which also put Potter Elementary School into temporary lockdown, according to WTSP.

The man who was shot had passed away at a hospital, first responders revealed. A woman, who was inside the house at the time of the collision, was also hospitalized but is expected to survive.

September 17, 2024

News: Pedestrian seriously hurt in crash on Hillsborough Ave. in Tampa

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

TAMPA, FL – A driver had turned east on Hillsborough Avenue from North Habana Avenue when they struck a pedestrian, leading the walker to suffer serious wounds Tuesday.

Tampa Police told WFLA that the collision happened around 7:45 a.m. when the pedestrian was walking out of bounds along the marked crosswalk and came into contact with the vehicle.

An ambulance did take the pedestrian to a hospital for treatment of injuries deemed “non-life-threatening.”

September 12, 2024

News: HCSO investigates crash with deputy outside Tampa McDonald’s

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

TAMPA, FL – The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) is investigating a crash that took place outside a McDonalds, which involved one of their own deputies Wednesday.

This collision happened around 6:30 a.m. along the Interbay Boulevard and South Dale Mabry Highway junction, WFLA indicated in a report.

Video footage showcased that at least four deputy vehicles were on site, as well as one fire truck engine.

September 10, 2024

News: FHP investigates injury crash at S 50th St., Causeway in Tampa

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

TAMPA, FL – Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the circumstances behind a collision reported Tuesday evening at South 50th Street and Causeway Boulevard.

FHP has not yet arrived at the scene, mentioned the types of individuals and people involved, indicated if anyone was injured or taken to the hospital, or specified the exact cause of this crash.

In addition, troopers did not list any pending citations or charges.

August 30, 2024

News: FHP at Suncoast Parkway crash scene involving patrol car

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

TAMPA, FL – Florida Highway Patrol is currently at Suncoast Parkway North at mile marker 6, investigating a crash involving a FHP patrol car.

FHP said they arrived at the scene at 5:38 p.m. Troopers have not yet commented on the specifics that led to this collision and have not stated whether anyone was injured or hospitalized.

In addition, FHP did not say when the scene would clear or if any citations or charges were expected.