Eureka Police Department reports that they removed over “88,000 pounds of trash and garbage and over 1,000 used needles” today as they forced the last of the campers in the Palco Marsh to leave.

The operation began in March after the Eureka City Council declared May 2 was the deadline for clearing the area.

Our reporter on the scene, Bobby Kroeker, reports that though not seamless, as a whole, today’s operation went smoothly. There was only one arrest and that person was not one of the homeless but, instead, a homeless advocate.

A few fires allegedly set by residents of the Marsh flared up consuming tents this morning. The smoke from the smoldering belongings gave an apocalyptic cast to the day.

People trailed out of the encampment with their belongings heaped on whatever wheeled conveyance they could find.

Numerous government agencies and non-profits showed up at the encampment prepared to assist in the transition. At times it seemed that the residents of the Marsh were outnumbered four to one by those there to help.

Nonetheless, leaving was stressful causing some residents to scream in rage and others to break down in tears.

Chief Andrew Mills of the Eureka Police Department tweeted that some of the homeless campers had left unpleasant traps for the officers assigned to the cleanup.

#nogooddeed booby trapped tents with urine ladened jars that fall on cops cleaning their mess. #Disgusting. — Andrew Mills (@ChiefAndyMills) May 2, 2016

A video briefing and following that a press release from the Eureka Police Department further gives law enforcement’s perspective: