Residents often hear chainsaws in neighborhoods shortly before a storm arrives as many cut back dead branches. While trimming can protect roofs, doing so close to landfall creates safety concerns for the community.
Public Works solid waste crews normally collect yard waste on regular routes, but a storm watch triggers two simultaneous effects. A massive surge of households cutting down large amounts of branches can overload collection capacity, and for safety reasons heavy trucks must suspend operations hours before tropical‑storm‑force winds arrive. Branches trimmed forty‑eight to seventy‑two hours before landfall are likely to remain on curbs throughout the storm.
Loose piles of oak branches, palm fronds or logs on the curb can become high‑velocity projectiles when winds exceed seventy miles per hour, potentially damaging windows, vehicles or power lines. The city advises residents to trim trees, remove dead limbs and clear heavy brush during calm, sunny weather early in the season, and to stop major trimming projects if an official storm warning is issued, leaving branches on the tree until after the event.
Press release issued by City of Sanford:
https://sanfordfl.gov/the-tree-trimming-trap-why-pruning-too-late-puts-your-neighborhood-at-risk/
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