Hurricane Wilma watch posted today

[priest]

Any word on the severity of the tree damage? Watching the Weather Channel and CNN, its so hard to tell how widespread it was. We're thinking about heading down there, but 1500 miles is a long haul not knowing what to expect. I'd love to go, but if the Florida tree companies have it under control, I don't want to waste my time. Decisions, decisions.

 

[treeseer]

one citizen got killed by a falling tree, it's reported. Not a big population where it hit, and many arborists tween OK and there. I'd pass on this one unless you have local contacts.

 

[priest]

Thanks for the response, treeseer. It sounds like the thing held together well enough to do some significant tree damage all the way across to the east side, however, which is heavily populated (Miami north through West Palm Beach).

 

[murphy4trees]

Ya... looks like we're on this one...

I wasn't thinking about it much but all the pieces have just started falling in place, and hopefully, I've learne enough over the past two years to help co-create a huge win win for everybody involved.... Got a localk salesman from last year who is game and friends coming from New Mexico with a motor home that sleeps six comfortably, and a cond to stay at for free in Boca raton, right between Ft Lauerdale and West Palm.....
So I need to think west coast or east coast too.... maybe straddle the state with salesmen working both sides and crews running back and forth....

I AM excited. Think I'll pass on the crane here and just bring down a skid loader with a root rake/grapple bucket. SAw the 300 bobcat with rubber tracks and a grapple in action moving logs today... Very impressive.... VERY VERY IMPRESSIVE!

I heard they don't need tracks in fla though... I wouldn't buy a machine for use up here without tracks though....
Any thoughts or advice is welcome..
Daniel

 

[priest]

I'm think I'm going too, with a small operation in mind (3 men, 1 skid steer). I wish I'd left two days ago, but Wilma was impossible for them to forecast with any certainty. 36 hours ago they were expecting it to make landfall in FL as a Cat 2, or more likely, a Cat 1 or Tropical Storm, diminishing quickly overland. That was obviously a gross underestimate (they never seem willing to admit that).
I'm not going expecting as much work as Katrina or Rita, just another adventure. Hell, a few years ago I drove straight through to Key West and back just to party for Spring Break, so why not go for a little hurricane work. The residential trimming work back home just isn't kicking in the endorphins.

 

[lumberjach]

I would say that everyone would be better off with Katrina. There is still a whole lot to be done. Wilma will be cleaned up in 10-12 days.

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

Any thoughts or advice is welcome..
Daniel

All I would say is don't let doller$ blur your senses ,though i'm sure you don't need me to tell you that,best wishes and keep safe to all you storm chasers..