Atlantic Beach is urging residents to watch for falling trees and limbs after days of heavy rain left soil across the city saturated and unstable.

The city posted a safety advisory on Oct. 8 warning that waterlogged ground has weakened root systems. Even healthy-looking trees can collapse without warning, the city said, particularly during light wind.

The hazard is separate from the flooding that closed Atlantic Boulevard between East Coast Drive and the oceanfront on Tuesday, Oct. 6. Roughly 12 inches of standing water covered the roadway that day, and public works crews lowered pond levels, pumped water and cleared debris from grate inlets, culverts and swales, News4Jax reported.

The tree risk persists after the rain stops. The advisory lists five steps residents should take:

  • Check your property for warning signs: visible soil heaving or cracking near a tree's base, sudden leaning, fresh root exposure or cracked canopy limbs. Stay a safe distance while inspecting.
  • Move vehicles out from under large canopies until soil dries and stabilizes.
  • Avoid wooded trails and unpaved park paths, especially during and right after rain.
  • Stay at least 35 feet back from any downed power line and call 911.
  • Drive carefully along tree-lined corridors, watching for sudden debris, low-hanging branches or waterlogged limbs sagging into the road.

The city did not specify how many inches of rain fell in the days before the advisory or give a timeline for when soil conditions are expected to stabilize.

The advisory also points residents to the city's tree canopy portal, which includes a Verified Tree Service Provider Program and a "Find an Arborist" tool through the International Society of Arboriculture. The portal covers tree removal permits and the city's tree protection ordinance.

Ron Bautista, the city's IT director, said in August when the portal launched that residents "already can actively participate through the portal, applying for free trees, nominating heritage trees and exploring interactive maps of foliage," the Beach Gazette reported.

Trees on private property are the landowner's responsibility. The city recommends hiring a certified arborist for any tree that looks suspect.

For emergencies involving a tree blocking a major road, damaging public infrastructure or tangled with utility lines, call 911. For non-emergency fallen limbs or hazardous trees on public property, contact Atlantic Beach Public Works at (904) 247-5834 or email [email protected].