News

Actions

Nun with chainsaw helps clear debris from Irma in Miami

Nun with chainsaw helps with Irma cleanup
CNN Erin Burnett interviews Miami nun who cut downed tree with chainsaw
Nun with chainsaw cuts downed tree from Hurricane Irma
Posted
and last updated

(CNN) - It’s not every day someone sees a nun with a chainsaw, but that’s what happened in Miami on Tuesday.

Police spotted Sister Margaret Ann, principal at Coleman F. Carroll High School, clearing debris left by Hurricane Irma. 

She told CNN's Erin Burnett that the road was blocked, and a driver spinning in the mud almost hit a wall.

 

"There was a need. I had the means, so I wanted to help out ... we had chainsaws sitting in a closet and they needed to be used," said Sister Margaret. 

An off-duty Miami-Dade officer drove by and spotted the nun's hard work and told her that other workers would remove the tree. 

However, Sister Margaret told the officer that it would take too long, and it needed to be done now. 

She said others helped her remove the tree and it was a good community-bonding moment.  

"I've been in education for more than 30 years, and we teach our students to do what you can to help other people, don't just think about yourselves, so that's what I wanted to do," said Sister Margret. 

The tweet by Miami-Dade police was re-tweeted 2,300 times in 14 hours.  

 

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Thursday

12/11/2025

Partly Cloudy

-° / 40°

10%

Friday

12/12/2025

Clear

60° / 43°

5%

Saturday

12/13/2025

Clear

64° / 44°

4%

Sunday

12/14/2025

Mostly Clear

58° / 43°

5%

Monday

12/15/2025

Partly Cloudy

55° / 43°

6%

Tuesday

12/16/2025

Partly Cloudy

55° / 45°

7%

Wednesday

12/17/2025

Partly Cloudy

58° / 47°

7%

Thursday

12/18/2025

Partly Cloudy

57° / 46°

11%