Okaloosa County to Collect Organic/Vegetative Storm Debris

Beginning May 28, 2024, Okaloosa County will begin removing organic/vegetative storm debris beyond the normal services offered by the County. This action is intended to provide immediate relief to residents following the May 10 storms which caused damage to homes and toppled trees in the area.

This process will take place on County-maintained roads and is expected to take about one week. Residents are encouraged to remain patient as Public Works crews make the debris collection.

The level of damage experienced in portions of Okaloosa County did not require a local declaration of emergency that would have activated a debris contractor following major events like hurricanes. In this unique case, Okaloosa County Public Works Road maintenance crews are performing the work.

While Okaloosa County was added to the Governor’s state of emergency declaration in Executive Order 24-95, additional steps must be taken before funding is provided for assistance to local governments, individuals and small businesses. Those steps include input from multiple agencies and a federal “major disaster” declaration. Certain damage assessment thresholds must be met for these programs to be considered at the state and federal levels.

For home residents who are serviced by Waste Management (WM), yard waste can be collected as part of your regular service collection days. WM requires yard trash that cannot be containerized in bags or cans to be less than 4 inches in diameter and no longer than 6 feet in length; and placed in bundles, piles, or stacks weighing no more than 50 pounds.
For debris along state-designated roadways (U.S. Highway 90, State Road 4, State Road 189), please contact the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to coordinate removal. Debris along private roadways will need to be contracted by the roadway owner directly with a contractor capable of providing debris removal services.
Thank you for your patience as we engage in these extra efforts.