Wilmington officials have begun adding up the costs of Hurricane Florence, and for a start, they're asking the Wilmington City Council on Tuesday to consider using $9 million from the city's savings for debris removal and recovery. 

An ordinance appropriating the money from Wilmington's fund balance is on the city council's agenda for Tuesday night.

"This is an initial estimate," explained a city news release Friday. "Once costs for clean-up, response and recovery are finalized, the city will apply for federal reimbursement."

In a message to council members in agenda documents, City Manager Sterling Cheatham wrote, "Due to the amount of destruction throughout the east coast with Hurricane Florence, we currently do not have a date established when final recovery costs will be completed."

Debris removal trucks rolled through city streets Friday afternoon, two weeks after the hurricane made landfall near Wrightsville Beach. The storm knocked down trees and flooded homes and businesses in New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties. 

At a meeting of local and state leaders this week, Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo said that as of Monday, there was an estimated 650,000 cubic yards of debris that needed to be removed.

The city contracted with DRC Emergency Services for debris pick-up. Detailed information about storm debris removal within city limits is available on the city's storm debris web page.

The Wilmington City Council is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers at City Hall.