Post-Storm Vegetation Debris Removal

Following a severe storm event, the Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) conducts immediate post-storm assessments, inspecting water control structures, canal channels and the canal rights-of-way for vegetative debris with the potential to negatively impact drainage.

The public can assist by reporting storm damage via our Citizen Damage Reporting System located on our website at https://lwddnet.wpengine.com/storm-response.  The user will be asked a few questions and a map will be provided to help identify the location of the incident. These public reports as well as LWDD staff assessments are reviewed and prioritized for vegetation removal. Priority is based on the following criteria:

  • High Priority – vegetation is in the water and threatening drainage
  • Medium Priority – vegetation is blocking the right-of-way and encumbering access or vegetation is significantly leaning over the waterway and could be a potential future threat to drainage
  • Low Priority – vegetation located on the LWDD right-of-way that may partially reduce access

Depending on the severity of the storm damage it may take several weeks before crews can address low priority incidents. Private property owners that wish to trim vegetation that has fallen or is leaning on their property from the LWDD right-of-way may do so at their discretion and expense. If access to the LWDD right-of-way is necessary to trim or remove vegetation, the property owner should receive prior approval from the LWDD for temporary access.

Any material from trimming or tree removal by the property owner must be properly disposed of by the resident or if applicable the contractor performing the work. Keep in mind that it is unlawful to place any debris in the canal or on the right-of-way in anticipation that LWDD will remove the material. Unlawful dumping will be reported to the authorities.

If fallen debris has damaged personal property, the individual property owner should contact their insurance company to submit a claim. The LWDD will not directly reimburse property owners for damage caused by acts of mother nature.

After a major storm event, debris clean-up is paramount to getting back to normal and the LWDD is committed to quick removal of hazardous flood prone debris for the safety of our residents.

tree pruning

Prepare Your Yard Now for Hurricane Season

Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County News – February 8, 2021
Contact: Willie Puz, Public Affairs and Recycling, 561-640-8914 (o); 561-379-2405 (c)

Preparing your yard for hurricane season can help minimize property damage and make our communities safer. The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County (SWA) strongly encourages residents to implement a year-round yard maintenance program.

Major storms can leave behind incredible amounts of debris. For example, after Hurricane Irma, almost 3 million cubic yards of vegetative debris was collected. It took three months and cost more than $39 million to collect and dispose of it all. You can help minimize the potential for vegetative debris by starting your hurricane trimming now. The SWA contract for unincorporated Palm Beach County residents allows them to place a maximum of 6 cubic yards of yard waste at the curb each week for pick-up. (Check out our short video for an example of what six cubic yards looks like.) Starting now allows for plenty of time for yard waste to be safely removed so you aren’t stuck with it in the event of a storm. Once a storm threatens, it’s too late to trim trees.

Here are some tips to ensure your yard is as prepared as possible:

  • Cut back all trees and weak branches that could contact
  • Have foliage thinned so wind can flow freely through branches, decreasing the chance that trees or plants will be
  • Contain small pieces of vegetation, such as pine needles, leaves and twigs, in bags or cans that weigh less than 50 when full and place at the curb on your scheduled pick-up day.
  • Clean your yard of any items that could pose a danger to you or your neighbor’s property in hurricane-force winds, such as old lumber, broken lawn furniture, etc. Unincorporated Palm Beach County residents can place these types of items (three per week) curbside on their bulk waste collection day (if you’re not sure what day that is, you can find it by entering your address on the My Pick-Up Days page). Please note that lumber must be placed in a container weighing no more than 50 lbs., and fence materials will not be collected in unincorporated Palm Beach County.
  • Place yard waste from routine maintenance at the curb on your regularly scheduled collection Residents in unincorporated Palm Beach County may place a maximum of 6 cubic yards equivalent to 3 standard size refrigerators at the curb each week. (Vegetation cannot exceed 6 in. in diameter, 6 ft. in length or 50 lbs. in weight.)
  • Unincorporated Palm Beach County residents who place more than the permitted 6 cubic yards of yard waste at the curb will have no portion of the waste removed. The pile will be tagged, and the resident will be responsible for removing all the material at their own

Residents living within city, village or town limits should contact their local municipality for their collection guidelines. Check the SWA website for municipal contact information. Whether you maintain your yard yourself or use a lawn care or landscape service, if you produce significant yard waste, consider requesting a price to remove the yard waste if it exceeds the 6 cubic yard limit. Excess debris from major cutting or tree removal will need to be properly transported and           disposed of, and there is a fee for disposal.

The SWA offers hurricane information to help residents understand best practices for preparedness and what the SWA prioritizes after a storm. For additional information on debris collection in unincorporated parts of the county, contact SWA Customer Information Services at 561-697-2700 or 866-792-4636 (toll-free), or visit SWA.org/Hurricane.

Additional Hurricane-Related Resources from Palm Beach County:

In the event of a hurricane, official safety information can be found through the Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management.

Twitter Logo

Twitter Accounts to Follow This Hurricane Season

Palm Beach County Emergency Management             @PBCDEM

Palm Beach County School District                                @PBCSD

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office                                @PBCountySheriff

Palm Beach County                                                            @PBCGOV

South Florida Water Management District                   @SFWMD

Gov. Ron DeSantis                                                             @GovRonDesantis

Florida Division of Emergency Management               @FLSERT

Florida Department of Transportation                          @FL511_State

FEMA                                                                                    @FEMA and @FEMARegion4

National preparedness information                               @Readygov

National Weather Service Miami                                    @NWSMiami

National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham      @WX4KEG

National Hurricane Center, Atlantic                              @NHC_Atlantic

National Hurricane Center                                               @NWSNHC

National Hurricane Center Storm Surge                       @NHC-Surge

 

Ref.: Hurricane Season: Ditch Friends’ Facebook Posts And Rely On Official Sources During Storm, Kimberly Miller, The Palm Beach Post, June 29, 2021

HOA Meeting

Community Flood Control Webinar

LWDD is offering a Community Flood Control online webinar you to watch at your convenience. After viewing the webinar contact us at info@lwdd.net or 561-498-5363 if you need additional information or guidance.
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Emergency Notices: Don’t Be Left Out

If you are a property manager, maintenance staff, board member or resident designated with the responsibility for flood control response, be sure LWDD has your contact information. We send out email notices with emergency updates and flood control authorizations for managing the community’s pond water elevations. Sign-up using the link below.