SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — As Tropical Storm Nicole churns out in the Atlantic, debris collection from Hurricane Ian is still underway in several areas in Central Florida, including Seminole County.

County employees say they are working non-stop to pick up as much as they can before the latest storm rolls in — but some residents are concerned they won’t make it to their yards.

“This is all from the trees on the side, and then in the back I’ve got some big oak trees that lost stuff,” said Michael Viviano, looking at the debris pile in his front yard.

Viviano said he has spent the last five weeks staring at this reminder of Hurricane Ian in his front yard.  

“That is a lot of projectiles,” he said. 

Viviano says he's weathered many storms over the last 21 years in his Sanford home, but said this is the longest debris pickup has ever taken. He said he feels a little uneasy about it now with Tropical Storm Nicole on the horizon.

“I am not going to complain — they are doing the best they can, I guess, but yeah you can see right now the wind picking up and it hasn’t even come close to us yet,” said Viviano.

However, Seminole County leaders say they are doing their best to get these piles cleaned up before Nicole arrives. They said that approximately 86 trucks having been working 12 hours a day, seven days a week, to get it done.

“About 60% right now of the vegetative debris has been picked up, we are continuing that operation until it is safe to do so," said Alan Harris, with the Seminole County Office of Emergency Management. 

According to Seminole County officials, there are still about 300,000 cubic yards of vegetative debris that need to be collected from Hurricane Ian. That is why they are lifting tipping fees at the landfills if residents want to get rid of their piles themselves ahead of the storm.

"Anyone can take debris to landfills, totally free of charge," said Harris. "Construction debris, vegetative debris, whatever the case may be, totally free of charge. We're trying to help individuals that have the means to do so to get that debris cleared as quickly as possible."

Viviano said that he knows the crews are working hard and hopes they make it to his debris pile before Tropical Storm Nicole does.

“Just coming home and not seeing it would make me feel better,” he said. 

Harris said that the problem areas for debris in Seminole County continue to be areas along the St. John's River where roads are still flooded. He said there are still about 30 county roads that still have water on them, making it hard for debris collection to happen there.

For anyone who still has debris in their front yards, he recommends keeping it away from any storm drains, waterways and roadways.