BELCO Urges Preparation For Hurricane Season
BELCO advised that “with hurricane season beginning on June 1st, the Company has and is taking all the necessary steps to prepare should the island be impacted by a storm this season and encourages the public to prepare as well, specifically as preparations pertain to the trimming of trees.”
A spokesperson said, “Ensuring that trees on private property remain 10 feet away from power lines is the sole responsibility of property owners.
“Trimming trees at least 10 feet back from power lines in advance of the approach of any storms will prevent branches from pulling down power lines, which poses a serious safety risk to the public. Additionally, it can increase the risk of one of the most inconvenient parts of a hurricane, losing your electricity, as most outages in Bermuda are caused by vegetation falling on power lines, even in years where Bermuda avoids a direct hit from a storm.
“Should property owners wish to trim their trees, it is critically important to remember that a power line’s electricity must be disconnected before trimming trees next to it. To schedule a temporary disconnection for tree trimming safety, property owners can call BELCO at 295-5111 or email treetrimming@belco.bm three weeks in advance of planned tree trimming activities. Hurricane season is now underway, so now is the time to make sure that trees are clear of any power lines.”
BELCO Managing Director, Shelly Leman said, “Our team at BELCO are well prepared for any storms that may impact us this season. I encourage the public to begin their hurricane preparations well in advance and ensure that trees are trimmed back at least 10 feet from power lines. Please be proactive and keep your vegetation managed this hurricane season.”
