Yard Work after a Storm

For the past decades, storms have gotten stronger with flooding rains, icy snow, and high blowing winds. After a storm, you have to be careful when you clean up the debris. The first thing to do is take pictures of the damage and notify your insurance company of any losses. Document damage of destroyed property, such as the purchase cost, date of purchase, and the estimated replacement cost.

Here are some tips to clean up after a storm. Protect your yard that has been exposed from the storm with plastic sheeting, lumber, or other sealing materials. Don’t get near a downed power line. It may zap you with electricity. In addition, avoid standing in water. There may be a downed power line that you can’t see.

Separate household garbage, recycling, and vegetation is separate piles. Place fallen leaves, plants, and small trees in a designated waste can. Any palm fronds or tree branches that are four feet long and twelve inches across weighing sixty pounds must be stacked. An affordable service will come by your house to pick up the debris and also the large tree sections. This debris gets transported to the Solid Waste Authority (SWA) landfill. There is a fee for the disposal.

Keep the following areas clear of debris: near the fence, water meters, electrical wiring, transformers, downed power poles, fire hydrants, or storm drains. You can place the debris at the curb. For any questions about your collection service contact 1-866-792-4636 (toll-free) or visit www.swa.org.