Cleaning up Safely

Escambia County, the city of Pensacola and the town of Century will determine if a storm warrants special debris collection. After a severe storm, residents should follow regular service schedules and watch for changes published in the local news media. Storm debris should be prepared for pickup as quickly as possible since special collection may be available only for a limited time. After the designated time, debris will be the responsibility of the property owner. The debris left behind by storms can carry hidden dangers and hazards. Follow these safety tips when cleaning up:

Always wear gloves and work boots when cleaning or removing debris.
Discard unsafe food.
Open windows to provide ventilation.
Remove wet contents including carpet, furniture and building materials.
Do not allow children to play in or around debris piles. Check play areas for hazards.
Do not try to move any displaced propane tanks. Get in touch with fire officials to provide them the location of these tanks.
Mold growth can be removed from hard surfaces with commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than one cup of bleach in one gallon of water. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners; mixing can produce dangerous, toxic fumes.

A man cuts a tree with a chainsaw.

Become familiar with the recommended safe operational procedures before attempting to work with a chain saw.
Be sure that you are in top physical and mental condition when operating dangerous machinery. Medications and alcohol can cause you to be a hazard to yourself and others when working with chain saws.
Equip yourself with protective clothing and equipment including safety goggles, hearing protection, steel-toed shoes, hard hat, gloves, and close-fitting clothing.
Never make cuts with the saw between your legs; always cut with the saw to the outside of your legs.
Don’t stand on a log and saw between your feet.
Always stand to one side of the limb you are cutting; never straddle it.
Always keep in mind where the chain will go if it breaks; never position yourself or other people in line with the chain.
Keep the chain out of the dirt; debris will fly.

A storm-damaged home leaves debris including furniture and wood on the property.

Please separate storm debris into these categories:

Construction: Furniture, carpet, tile, steel, glass, brick, concrete, asphalt roofing material, pipe, gypsum wallboard, lumber or anything used in the construction, renovation and demolition of a structure.
Vegetative debris: Tree limbs, leaves, logs, pallets and tree branches.
White goods: Washers, dryers, refrigerators, ranges, microwaves, water heaters, freezers and small AC units.
Electronics: TVs, computers, monitors, fax machines, stereos, speakers, etc.
Household Hazardous Waste: Cleaning supplies, batteries, lawn chemicals, oils, oil-based paints and stains and pesticides.

Commercial Customers: Please contact your contracted waste services provider for disposal services. Commercial waste should not be placed on the right of way.

View Social Channels List

Accessibility Title VI/Nondiscrimination Contact Us Site Map Website Feedback Employees Media Center Public Records Request Service Requests Careers

The mission of Escambia County government is to provide efficient, responsive services that enhance our quality of life, meet common needs and promote a safe and healthy community.

Under Florida law, IP addresses and both the content of emails and email addresses are public records. If you do not want your IP address and the content of your email or your email address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in person.