As of Wednesday, the mission by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, was 99 percent complete said FWC’s Robert Rowe.
The number to the east of the storm is much lower because many vessels were pushed onto land and are not part of the operation.
Recovery efforts started in the days after the storm. Using satellite images, officials work to identify targets that could be boats in state waters. They don’t have jurisdiction over boats on land above the tide line and those in private waterways.
In all, 1,378 targets were identified after Michael. By comparison, Hurricane Irma in 2017 left 2,600 boats abandoned.
“Each storm is different,” Rowe said.
Once targets are confirmed as boats — sometimes floating refrigerators dupe crews — officials work to remove gasoline and oil from the vessels and the water around them then remove them from the water. By last week, 19,645 gallons of water contaminated with oil and gas were removed.
A budget of $18.5 million was allotted by FEMA for vessel cleanup after Michael. As of Monday, $15.56 million had been spent. A quarter of the cost comes from FWC while federal partners chip in the remaining 75 percent.
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