NATCHEZ — Entergy is once again trimming trees in the Natchez area to prevent limbs and trees from falling on power lines during storms and causing power outages.

The vegetation management, which includes mowing, trimming, applying herbicides and removing hazardous dead trees, is part of Entergy’s preventive maintenance plan, Natchez Entergy Customer Service Manager Tim Runnels said.

“If we don’t trim them back, (the trees) will grow into the lines, and limbs and break off and fall through the lines,” he said.

Trimming the trees is especially important, Runnels said, because it helps prevent tree limbs and hazardous trees from falling on power lines and poles during bad weather.

Most of the trees around the area’s main power lines are trimmed every four to six years, but Entergy is constantly on the lookout for dangerous trees and removes them as soon as possible, Runnels said.

The areas that have been or will be trimmed include parts of Liberty Road, John R. Junkin Drive from the Natchez Mall to Natchez Regional Medical Center, Lower Woodville Road and neighboring streets, Homochitto Street, Glenwood and Dana areas, U.S. 61 North to Washington and Martin Luther King Jr. Street.

Most of downtown Natchez was trimmed last year, Runnels said.

Residents who live in the neighborhoods where work is being done, Runnels said, were notified of the work by phone or door hanger.