Hurricane Preparedness

Pre Hurricane Season Maintenance

All major cutting of vegetation (i.e., tree removal) should be completed before June 1, the beginning of hurricane season. Do all major cutting/tree removal from December 1 through April 30. Removal of debris from routine yard maintenance throughout the year can be prepared for curbside collection on your yard waste day. If you are having trees removed or doing any other major cutting, be sure to have your contractor include the price of debris removal as part of their service. Debris from major cutting or tree removal will need to be transported to a yard waste permitted facility. There is a fee for disposal.

• Cut back all trees or branches that are near your home, pool cage, shed or other buildings
• Have your foliage thinned so wind can flow freely through branches, decreasing the chance that trees/plants will be uprooted
• Place vegetative trimmings at the curb on your regular yard waste collection day. Yard waste must be containerized in an extra yard waste container, paper lawn/leaf bag, or bundled (Cans and bundles cannot weigh more than 50 pounds each. Limbs cannot be more than four feet in length and four inches in diameter. A total of ten 45-gallon containers or ten bundles of yard waste may be placed curbside).
  Yard waste in plastic bags will not be collected.
• Clean your yard of any items that could pose a danger to you or your neighbors in hurricane force winds such as old lumber, broken lawn furniture, etc. and place curbside on your bulk waste collection day
• This is the time to go through your home, yard, and garage looking for any household hazardous waste such as old paint, gasoline, oil, pool chemicals, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, outdated electronics and bring them to one of Collier County's convenient Recycling Drop-Off Center.

Once a Storm is Named or a Hurricane Warning is Issued

• Do not cut down trees or do not do any major yard work. Mass cutting produces a burden on the normal collection process
• Do not begin construction projects that produce debris unless absolutely necessary to protect life and property
• Once a watch or warning has been issued, do not trim vegetation of any kind
• Secure all debris and do not place materials of any kind at the curb during a Watch or Warning period
• Place garbage and recycle carts inside or secure them so they cannot blow or float away due to strong winds or storm surge
• Services maybe suspended or facilities may close early to prepare for the storm. Residents should monitor local media, website or social media platform for collection service status and any changes to disposal facility operations

Storm-Related Debris FAQs(PDF, 423KB)

For optimal efficiency, safety, and timely debris collection, we advise adhering to these simple guidelines.

• Please be patient. Following a storm, the top priority is the health and safety of our community and the restoration of the county
• Debris collection guidance and recovery process updates will be available through local media, Collier County government website and social media
• Keep household garbage, recycling and vegetative and/or construction storm debris in separate piles. Debris must be neatly stacked or piled curbside by debris type
• Securely containerize all household garbage in plastic bags or carts to be placed curbside on your scheduled day away from storm-related debris
• Storm debris should be sorted into separate piles by disaster related vegetative debris, construction and demolition, electronics, appliances and white goods.

  Separating Storm Debris Guide - English(PDF, 5MB)

  Separating Storm Debris Guide - Spanish(PDF, 5MB)

  Separating Storm Debris Guide - Creole(PDF, 5MB)

• Appliances and white goods must have all doors removed. All perishables must be cleared out before collection. 
• Don't place any debris near or on a fence, mailbox, power line equipment, poles, transformers, downed electrical wiring, water meters, fire hydrants or storm drains
• Don't block roadways, traffic signs, swales or storm water structures
• Avoid placing debris on paver driveways or other areas that might be susceptible to inadvertent damage
• Small quantities of yard waste can be prepared the same as your weekly yard waste collection guidelines. View guidelines at Residential Collections Services webpage.
• Household hazardous waste can also be taken to one of Collier County's Recycling Drop-Off Centers
• Pick up will generally be done with a mechanized claw truck so it's important that you not set debris over buried electric/phone lines, water meters, hydrants or mailboxes. Inspectors will tour each part of the county to determine where collection needs are greatest
• Debris will be collected from the curb on multiple passes by a mechanical claw
• After a major storm event, yard waste associated with land clearing and landscape improvement activities is not eligible for collection; disposal of this type of debris is the responsibility of the property owner at the property owner's expense

In preparation for hurricane season, The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires that private or gated communities with restricted access (there are locks, gates or guards) have a current Right of Entry and Indemnification Form on file with Collier County before any assessments, pre-approval or disaster debris recovery contractors are allowed to enter the community. Disaster-related debris may be removed from the right-of-way if it is pre-approved by the Federal Disaster Recovery Manager, is a public health and safety hazard, and if the work is performed by an eligible applicant, such as a municipal or county government.

Filling out the form is quick, easy and only has to be done once a year. Collier County requires an HOA President, Property Manager or Authorized Signer to complete the form prior to the start of hurricane season.

We will store your signed Right of Entry Form on file in case your community needs our assistance after a storm.

Please note the following important details regarding debris collection:

• Right to Entry Forms need to be filled out annually
• If you do not complete the Right of Entry Form, your community will not be eligible for debris collection from Collier County vendors
• FEMA must approve and assess debris collection before the County's vendors can collect from the private road right-of way
• Debris that may be eligible for removal and disposal must be a direct result of the declared event, must occur within the designated disaster area. Debris removal may be eligible by FEMA when it so widespread that:
  • Eliminates immediate threats to lives, public health and safety
  • Eliminates immediate threats of significant damage to improved public or private property
  • Ensures economic recovery of the affected areas to the benefit of the community-at-large
• Completion of the Right of Entry Form does not guarantee debris collection from County vendors
• There is never any obligation to use Collier County vendors to collect storm debris
• Communities may use their own insurance or their own contractor for debris removal
• Debris Removal from private property is the responsibility of the individual property owner, aided by insurance settlements and assistance from volunteer agencies. Most insurance policies have specific coverage for debris removal and demolition of heavily damaged structures.

Your information will only be used in the event of a storm. If necessary, we will use this information to get in contact with authorized agents and policyholders regarding your community's debris collection.

If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us hurricanePPDR@collier.gov

Commercial Property 

Debris generated from commercial properties, such as industrial parks, golf courses, cemeteries, apartments, condominiums, and trailer parks are the responsibility of the owner, and are expected to retain insurance that covers debris removal.