Dangers Hide Below During Hurricane Season
Sunshine 811 Urges Safe Storm Clean-up to Prevent Additional Hazards
DEBARY, Fla. (May 20, 2026) – June marks the start of hurricane season – a time when Floridians are gearing up with supplies, preparedness plans and home protections. But as residents brace for potential storms, experts remind them that some of the greatest dangers emerge after the skies clear, hidden below the surface.
“What you do after a storm is just as important as preparing for it,” said Wendy Schaefer, education and awareness manager for Sunshine 811. Post-storm cleanup often involves digging around fallen trees, broken fences and scattered debris. While it may seem routine, digging blindly can lead to striking underground utility lines, triggering service outages, expensive repairs, serious injuries or worse. In Florida, contacting Sunshine 811 before you dig isn’t just smart—it’s the law.
Sunshine 811 is a free service that notifies member utility companies of your planned dig so they can mark underground facilities on your property. Homeowners can submit an online request at sunshine811.com or simply dial 811 at least two full business days before digging begins. And if you hire a contractor, confirm they contact 811, too.
“When a storm leaves behind toppled trees, broken fences and outages, safety can take a back seat to the rush to recover,” said Schaefer. “But safety is a shared responsibility. Calling 811 protects the people doing the digging—along with neighbors and essential utility services. One quick call or online request can prevent a tough situation from becoming a dangerous one.”
Storm Clean-Up & Restoration Safety Tips
Sunshine 811 offers these important reminders to help prevent further outages, injuries and hazards after a storm:
Avoid cutting any aboveground lines running through trees or lying on the ground—assume they may still be live.
Never place debris in front of or on top of utility structures such as boxes, meters, pedestals or transformers.
Inspect tree roots carefully before cutting; buried utility lines may be tangled in them. If you see a line, do not touch it.
Contact 811 before using a stump grinder or any equipment that digs into the ground.
Get utility lines marked before repairing or replacing fallen or damaged fences.
By using Sunshine 811 and following these safety guidelines, Floridians can protect themselves, their families and their communities from avoidable harm. Stay safe—and stay prepared—this hurricane season.
About Sunshine 811
Celebrating more than 30 years of work to make Florida the safest place to dig, Sunshine 811 is the state’s go-to resource for education and training on the safe digging process. It’s also the organization the law requires you to call before starting any digging project. Sunshine 811 maintains a toll-free number and a 24/7 online system to notify its member utility companies of pending excavation projects so buried utility lines can be located and marked to protect the underground infrastructure.
It’s estimated that a utility line is damaged 73 times every day in Florida. Sunshine 811’s efforts are all about ensuring public safety and preventing underground utility damage. With Florida’s continued ranking as one of the top states in the country for construction activity and related jobs, safe digging in Florida and Sunshine 811’s role has never been more important.
