/content/fplgp/us/en/northwest/reliability/trees/storm-debris-policy.html

FPL’s Storm Debris Policy is designed to support power restoration as efficiently as possible. Named hurricanes, tropical storms or any significant weather event can create massive amounts of debris from trees, branches and other vegetation. This vegetation blowing into our equipment is a leading cause of outages following these storms. FPL crews and contractors – including crews from other states – are working safely and as quickly as possible to restore power for customers. During hurricane or named-storm restoration, vegetation management crews will clear debris that only affects electric facilities, power lines or access to our equipment.

  • Prior to a storm making landfall, our crews strategically trim locations surrounding our equipment until conditions are no longer safe in an effort to reduce tree-related outages.
  • During pre-storm trimming, our crews target picking up debris they cut the day of or the following day, depending on the expected timing of severe weather.
  • FPL often mobilizes out-of-state or non-FPL crews ahead of a storm to support restoration. These crews do not travel with chippers and prioritize safely and productively moving from various power outage locations supporting restoration.
  • When the Storm Debris Policy is active, it is the responsibility of the property owner, in conjunction with their normal refuse provider, to remove debris following landfall of a named storm or significant weather event. For most of FPL’s service area, the refuse service for debris pickup is provided by your city or county during this time.
  • If your city or county government has no role in refuse service, please contact your refuse service provider directly for debris pickup.
  • It is the responsibility of the property owner to move debris curbside for pickup by their refuse provider.
  • Standard FPL debris pickup may remain paused for an extended period of time in the hardest hit areas following a named storm or significant weather event while crews continue to support restoration activities and transition back to normal operations. In lesser impacted areas, the reallocation of restoration crews to harder-hit areas may also delay standard debris pickup.
  • Please do not pile storm debris near utility poles. Piles of trash and debris make it difficult for restoration crews to access the equipment necessary to restore power.
  • Please contact emergency services if you have a special or critical situation with a fallen tree or other debris that is preventing you from getting in or out of your home.

Frequently asked questions

Why does FPL trim vegetation before a storm?

FPL maintains vegetation around thousands of miles of power lines each year to improve the reliability of our electric grid. We know that vegetation is a leading cause of outages during hurricanes and severe weather when debris falls onto or into power lines. Trimming vegetation ahead of storms helps reduce outages.  

Why doesn’t FPL pick up all vegetation debris?

During routine maintenance prior to a storm making landfall, FPL removes debris when performing work that is part of our scheduled line-clearing program. Following named weather events, restoration crews are working safely and as quickly as possible to restore power for our customers. To improve efficiency during the restoration process, crews will clear only the debris that directly affects electrical equipment, power lines or access to FPL equipment.

When FPL’s standard debris pickup is paused due to restoration efforts, it is the responsibility of the property owner in conjunction with their local government to remove cuttings and tree debris. Please contact your local government’s waste management office or refuse service provider for further information on debris collection.

Who is responsible for debris pick up if FPL doesn’t pick it up?

During a named storm event, it is the responsibility of the property owner and normal refuse service to remove debris for pickup. For most of our service area, the refuse service is provided by your city or county. If your city or government has no role in refuse service, please contact your refuse service provider directly for debris pick up. Please contact emergency services and your local government officials if you have a special or critical situation with a fallen tree or other debris this is preventing you from getting in or out of your home.

How long will it take for debris to be removed?

While supporting storm restoration, FPL’s standard debris pickup may remain paused for an extended period of time in the hardest hit areas following a named storm or significant weather event while crews return to normal operations. In lesser impacted areas, the reallocation of restoration crews may also delay standard debris pickup. We understand this may be inconvenient and appreciate your understanding while we respond to hurricanes and severe weather events. 

Why was FPL trimming my trees if I didn’t lose power?

FPL proactively monitors entire lengths of power lines to check for vegetation issues. Trees and other vegetation that are in potential conflict with an FPL power line are identified for maintenance. This helps us restore power safely and as quickly as possible following hurricanes and severe weather, while also helping us reduce any further potential outages.

Shouldn’t FPL be responsible for trees in an easement or Right of Way?

FPL is responsible for maintaining its electrical equipment, which includes performing tree trimming on vegetation near it to ensure safe, reliable operations. We perform this as part of our preventative maintenance program.

FPL does not trim every tree, so it is the customer’s responsibility to have other trees trimmed by a specially trained, qualified, line-clearing professional if the vegetation is within 10 feet of a power line. We encourage customers to review our “Right Tree, Right Place” program information when selecting which trees to plant on your property. Planting the right tree in the right place so it avoids our power lines can help reduce outages for you and your neighbors.

FPL pursues the removal of trees that interfere with FPL equipment that cannot be pruned without dramatically affecting the shape or health of the tree. Tree species with high growth rates, like bamboo and certain palm trees, and trees in poor health are examples where FPL pursues removal. After a tree is trimmed or removed, the remaining debris is collected before the end of the next business day except during any restoration efforts immediately following a named storm while the storm debris pickup policy is in place.