Town of Hempstead sending help to Florida to clear roads after hurricanes

A team of Hempstead town workers will head to hurricane-ravaged Florida in the coming days to help clear roads after Hurricane Milton tore a deadly path of destruction through the state this week and left millions of people without electricity.

Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin outside town hall Friday announced a two-phase plan "to help our friends down in Florida" after two recent hurricanes.

He said town employees will drive to the state with heavy equipment to remove debris and fallen trees clogging up streets. 

"We’re going to be sending down tree trimming crews, payloaders and heavy equipment that we have on standby right now," Clavin said.

In addition, the town will collect nonperishable food items and other essentials, like batteries and baby diapers, at five locations, supplies that will be sent in the near future to help Floridians in the wake of Milton.

At least 10 people are dead, The Associated Press reported Friday, after Milton also spawned deadly tornadoes.

Two weeks earlier, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida and flooded streets and homes as it ripped through the South. That hurricane caused at least 227 deaths, with about half the fatalities in North Carolina, the AP reported.

Clavin estimated 10 to 16 town employees will make the trip south, depending on how many vehicles Florida authorities indicate are needed. He said the town’s crews "can clear up those secondary roads."

"You have a lot of trees down, a lot of debris," Clavin said.

Town officials said they haven't finalized where the resources will go in Florida, but Clavin mentioned the town had been in contact with officials in Vero Beach. Government officials there couldn't immediately be reached for comment Friday.

Brian Devine, a Hempstead town spokesman, said the employees are expected to leave for the trip in the next few days. 

Devine said five collection boxes will be out through the end of the month for people to leave donations. The boxes will be at three locations in the Village of Hempstead: Hempstead Town Hall at 1 Washington St., Old Town Hall at 350 Front St. and at the Receiver of Taxes Office at 200 N. Franklin St.

Boxes also will be at Echo Park at 399 Nassau Blvd. in West Hempstead and at Levittown Hall at 201 Levittown Pkwy. in Hicksville.

By Joseph Ostapiuk

joseph.ostapiuk@newsday.com@OstapiukJ