ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — St. Petersburg leaders have said they can’t keep residents safe from a potential crane collapse, outside of warning them of the risk based on where they live.

Hurricane Milton brought down a crane on Central Avenue, damaging an office building. Some people have asked, “What if that was a residential building?”

The state prevents any action by local governments when it comes to regulating crane usage. What city leaders would like the state to do is address hurricane preparedness and select cranes designed to the same wind speed as the building. For now, the city will ask construction companies what kind of crane they will use, for better preparation, and to notify residents.

“I think notification has to go to surrounding properties when we get the information, that says there is (a) construction project that is going to be happening within ‘x’ amount of yards that could possibly kill you because we don’t have the ability to regulate this,” said Gina Driscoll, a city council member. “We can’t keep the cranes from happening, and we can’t ensure they’re going to be safe, so the very least we can do is make sure that everyone knows.”

Driscoll said she filed for action to be taken on this 48 hours after the crane collapse, and attended a neighborhood meeting in January where the crane collapse was the main topic.

“People were scared. And I had to look them in the eye and say right now there is nothing we can do to protect you,” Driscoll said.

City leaders said before the collapse, they didn’t have a procedure of notifying surrounding property owners about the crane risks, but now they do.

Cynthia Smith lives downtown and said the city taking their concerns to the state won’t fully address the immediate concerns about the approval process, where they allow new construction adjacent to residential buildings.

“It’s depressing because this city is growing so fast vertically,” Smith said. “It concerns me that they acknowledge that, but they are still giving approvals for these buildings.”

Smith is mainly referring to the Waldorf Astoria. The city approved the 49-story condo to be built next door to her.

Smith wants luffing cranes to be required. This type of crane is being used at the construction site at Art House in downtown. The city said they believe the people building the Waldorf Astoria are looking to use a luffing crane, but would need FAA approval, and the actual crane type hasn’t been specified yet.

“The simple solution is if you’re going to build adjacent to another residential building, A, you have to use a luffing crane, B, it needs to be rated for hurricane strength, and C, if they want to go vertical during a hurricane maybe they need a special easement,” Smith said.

She said the downtown area is running out of space, and leaders are squeezing in these properties, making safety a bigger concern.

“People could’ve been killed. We’ll have the same situation here if they use tower cranes that close to us trying to build that 49-story building,” Smith said.

City leaders said they will push hard for assistance on the state level.

They filed a motion for the staff to draft a resolution to repeal and replace the Florida State Statute regarding cranes.

There is a bill moving in the senate that proposes a repeal of the preemptions at the state level, which city leaders said is a good first step.