Cutting Up Storm-Downed Trees Safely After Hurricane Isaias (Mobile County Guide)

After a hurricane, treat every downed power line as live and never cut a tree or limb that is touching or within reach of a utility line. Call your utility instead. For trees that are clear of lines, wear full PPE (hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, chainsaw chaps, ankle-covering boots), keep the saw below shoulder height with two hands on the handles, and avoid the kickback zone at the upper tip of the bar. Leave hung trees, roof-leaners, and spring poles above shoulder height to professionals. Alabama Extension notes that more people are hurt and killed in the days and weeks after storms than during the storms themselves.

If Isaias left limbs and trees across your yard, take your time: rushing is how people get hurt. This guide pulls together safety guidance from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES), plus what we see at the counter in Theodore and Saraland. It isn't a substitute for chainsaw safety training. Extension recommends that every operator take a course.

Why post-storm cutting is more dangerous than weekend firewood

Storm wood isn't firewood. Hurricanes twist, bend, break and uproot trees, and a downed tree can be holding huge forces in bent and stretched wood. Add the weight of green wood and you have some of the most dangerous cutting there is.

ACES puts it plainly: more people are hurt and killed in the days and weeks after a storm than during it. A big part of that is the urge to "get it done today." Slow down. Look over the whole job before you pull the starter cord, take breaks, and don't work alone.

Rule #1: limbs and trees near power lines

Treat all downed lines as energized

Just because your power is out doesn't mean the line is dead. ACES points out that neighbors running generators can feed electricity back into the lines. Treat every fallen line as live.

Never cut or pull branches off power or communications lines

Don't remove branches from power lines, and don't remove them from TV cable or phone lines either. ACES warns those can hurt you too. Don't touch the lines or anything touching them.

Keep your distance

ACES: stay about 33 feet from any tree touching power lines (tree and ground can be energized), and don't work within 10 feet of lines. If someone is hurt by contact with a line or energized tree, don't touch them: call 911.

What ADPH says about downed lines

Don't touch lines on the ground or dangling near it, and don't try to move or repair them. Report them to your utility. Avoid driving through standing water if downed lines are in it. If a line falls across your vehicle, keep driving away from it. If the engine stalls, don't turn off the ignition: stay in the vehicle and wait for emergency personnel.

Report downed lines to your utility. Alabama Power customers can use the Alabama Power outage map. If you're served by an electric co-op or another provider, use their outage line or website.

When to call a pro instead of cutting it yourself

Leave these jobs to a professional tree service or a certified arborist:

• A tree on a house, roof, vehicle or other structure. ACES notes these often need heavy equipment.
• Large trees hung up on other trees (sometimes called "widow-makers")
• Spring poles above shoulder height
• Anything within 10 feet of a power line (call the utility)
• Any job that means getting your feet off the ground: ladders, roofs or climbing

Don't work under hung limbs or broken tops. ACES warns they keep falling for days and weeks after a storm.

Tree professionals can find saws, gear and parts on our arborists page.

PPE checklist

ADPH and ACES list the same core gear. Wear all of it, whether you're cutting for five minutes or five hours:

• ☐ Hard hat: protects you from falling limbs and kickback
• ☐ Safety glasses: protect against flying chips
• ☐ Hearing protection: earmuffs or earplugs
• ☐ Heavy work gloves
• ☐ Chainsaw chaps (cut-resistant leg protection) that run from the waist to the top of the foot
• ☐ Boots that cover the ankle. ACES recommends steel toes.

ACES reports that sturdy boots and chainsaw chaps can prevent about 40 percent of injuries, and keeping two hands on the saw can prevent about another 35 percent. If you need gloves or other gear, ask at the counter what we have in stock.

[Image: PPE checklist graphic with operator in full gear]

Pick the right saw for storm wood

Mid-weight is usually enough

ACES says bigger isn't better: larger saws wear you out faster. Extension's guidance: an 8–15" bar for small limbs, a midweight 16–20" bar for most hurricane cleanup, and avoid bars over 20" for homeowner work. Two examples we carry are the Husqvarna 440 with an 18" bar and the Husqvarna 450 Rancher with an 18" bar. Browse chainsaws or Stihl if you're not sure.

Battery vs. gas

ACES notes battery saws are quieter, start with a push button, need less maintenance and have enough power for most smaller jobs. They are just as dangerous as gas saws. Extension also recommends having two batteries, since run time is roughly 30 minutes. See our battery chainsaws.

Use a pole saw for hanging limbs you can reach from the ground

Never use a handheld chainsaw at or above shoulder height. If a limb is hanging overhead and you can safely reach it from the ground, and it's well clear of power lines, use a pole saw. Examples we carry include the Husqvarna 525P5S, the battery-powered Husqvarna 120iTK4-P and the Stihl HT 56 C-E. See all pole saws and pole pruners. Stand clear of where the limb will fall, and remember that limbs can bounce or roll.

Check the safety features before you start

ACES warns that older saws may be missing safety features, or have broken ones. Check these:

• Chain brake: push the front hand guard forward. The chain must not turn when the brake is on.
• Chain catcher: the small piece under the saw that catches a thrown chain
• Throttle interlock: the throttle shouldn't work unless the palm trigger is pressed
• Clutch: the chain must stop at idle. If it keeps turning at idle, don't use the saw.

ADPH also lists front and rear hand guards, a stop switch and a spark arrester. Keep the chain sharp, oiled and properly tensioned, and maintain the saw according to the manual. If your saw fails any of these checks, bring it in for our chainsaw & pole saw full service or handheld repair before you start cutting.

Kickback: what it is and how to avoid it

Kickback happens when the upper part of the bar tip touches something or meets resistance. The bar can rotate violently back toward the operator's head, chest or legs. ACES calls the upper tip the "no-go" zone.

ACES recommends: know where the tip is at all times; keep two hands on the saw with thumbs wrapped and your left elbow locked; run full throttle when cutting; stand to the left of the bar; and use a low-kickback chain if you're less experienced. Also: left hand on the front handle and right on the rear (there are no left-handed chainsaws); engage the chain brake when you take more than a couple of steps; keep both feet planted; take a knee instead of bending at the waist; and don't drop-start the saw. No saw or chain is kickback-proof. New to chainsaws? Read how to start and operate a chainsaw and our safety tips for power equipment.

[Image: kickback zone diagram on a guide bar]

Limbing and bucking a fallen tree (basics only)

This is not a felling course. For anything more involved, get training or hire a pro. For a tree already on the ground, ACES recommends:

1. Check whether the tree could roll, and work from the uphill side.
2. Find the limbs holding the tree up (usually underneath). Leave those for last.
3. Start at the base (butt) and take weight off by cutting limbs on top of the trunk first.
4. Cut limbs flush so you don't leave stubs.
5. Remove side limbs next, still leaving tensioned limbs for last.
6. Release tensioned limbs carefully: don't cut the outside (stretched) side of a bent limb. Shave the inside (compressed) side lightly so pressure releases slowly.

Spring poles

A spring pole is a tree or limb bent and pinned under another tree or debris. It can lash out hard enough to break bones. If the bend is above your shoulders, hire a pro. Below that, never cut the outside of the bend: that wood is under tension and releases explosively. Lightly shave the inside of the bend at its tightest point so it releases slowly.

Keep bystanders back

ADPH says bystanders should stay at least two tree lengths (at least 150 feet) from anyone felling a tree, and at least 30 feet from anyone limbing or cutting up a fallen tree.

Have a plan

ACES recommends you don't work alone, know the worksite address, keep a stocked first aid kit handy, decide who calls 911, and keep a vehicle ready. ADPH adds that if someone is badly cut, you should apply direct pressure to heavy bleeding.

Once the wood is cut into rounds, our log splitter rental can help turn it into firewood.

Other cleanup hazards from ADPH

Generators and carbon monoxide. Never run a generator, grill, camp stove or other fuel-burning device indoors or near an open window. ADPH says keep them at least 20 feet from any door, window or vent, and use a battery-powered CO detector. CO is odorless and colorless. Get medical help right away for headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain or confusion.

ADPH's hurricane safety release also covers food safety, septic systems, well water, animals and mold.

Gear, rentals and service for Mobile County

American Power Equipment has served Mobile County since 1965 as an authorized Husqvarna and Stihl dealer and service center.

• Rent: chainsaw and pole saw rental by the day, week or month. See equipment rentals.
• Service: bring a saw that sat all season in for chainsaw & pole saw full service or see service & repair.
• Spare chain, bars and bar oil: storm wood dulls chain fast. Shop chainsaw accessories. See what size chainsaw chain do I need and is my chainsaw chain dull?. We ship parts nationwide.
• Smaller brush: pruners & hedge trimmers.

Visit our Theodore or Saraland store, call (251) 653-5900, or contact us. Hours: Mon–Fri 7:30–4:30, Sat 7:30–12. For next season, see Stihl tools for storm season prep.

FAQs

Can I cut a tree that's touching a power line after the storm?

No. Treat the line as live, stay away from the tree, and call your utility. Never remove branches from power or communications lines.

How far should I stay from a tree on a power line?

Alabama Extension recommends staying at least 33 feet from a tree in contact with power lines, and not working on trees within 10 feet of power lines.

What PPE do I need for storm chainsaw work?

A hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, heavy work gloves, chainsaw chaps that run from the waist to the top of the foot, and boots that cover the ankle. Alabama Extension recommends steel toes.

What is chainsaw kickback and how do I avoid it?

Kickback is a sudden rotation of the bar toward the operator when the upper tip of the bar touches something. Keep the tip clear, use two hands with your left elbow locked, run the saw at full throttle, stand to the left of the bar, and never cut above shoulder height.

What size chainsaw do I need for hurricane cleanup?

Alabama Extension says a midweight saw with a 16–20 inch bar is typically sufficient for hurricane cleanup. Larger saws are heavier and more tiring.

Should I use a pole saw for hanging limbs?

Yes, if you can reach the limb safely from the ground and it's well away from power lines. Never use a handheld chainsaw at or above shoulder height or from a ladder.

What is a spring pole and why is it dangerous?

A spring pole is a tree or limb bent and held under tension by another tree or debris. It can snap or lash out when cut. If it's above shoulder height, hire a professional.

How far should bystanders stay?

Alabama Public Health says at least two tree lengths (at least 150 feet) from anyone felling a tree, and at least 30 feet from anyone limbing or cutting a fallen tree.

Can I rent a chainsaw or pole saw in Mobile County?

Yes. American Power Equipment rents chainsaws and pole saws by the day, week or month at our Theodore and Saraland stores. Call (251) 653-5900.

When should I hire an arborist instead?

Hire a pro for trees on houses or structures, trees hung up in other trees, spring poles above shoulder height, and any work that means using a ladder or climbing. For anything within 10 feet of power lines, call your utility.