With hurricane season underway and roadside foliage growing rapidly, the community is being urged to join in an effort to trim overhanging trees to reduce fallen branches in the event of a storm.

The Ministry of Public Works has teamed up with other members of the Emergency Measures Organisation to trim greenery on public roads in areas prone to storms.

David Burch, the public works minister, encouraged the public to trim overhanging trees on their own properties to assist the teams.

He said that those who helped would be able to dump their waste at the Marsh Folly Composting Facility in Pembroke for free this Saturday and Sunday between 7.30am and 4pm.

“As the old saying goes, ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’, Lieutenant-Colonel Burch said. “So the EMO members have combined their resources to address specific areas around the island where storm force winds can topple tall trees and create greater problems during our post storm clean-up efforts.

“This is part of our preventive efforts in the event of a serious storm or hurricane. And these measures can prevent future power outages, road closures and extensive clean-up.”

A Belco spokesman reminded the public to call Belco and arrange for the power to be disconnected if trimming trees within 10 feet of a power line.

Personnel with the Royal Bermuda Regiment, Belco, the public works ministry and the Government’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation Unit will target trees along South Shore Road in Southampton and Warwick this weekend.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Public Works asked motorists to be patient during this time.