My Disaster Relief load out

[caleath]

Not sure if we are going anywhere this weekend. I am still on call through Saturday. If the weather keeps up here....you guys might all need to come here.

 

[Teddy.Scout]

Stay safe and ALERT!
Nice set-up guys!

I know the time, cost and effort needed to get to just the point of what you have pictured! But also know what may lie in front of you. Have at it!!!!

 

[Saw Dr.]

Looks like the ebay boys have your gasoline well covered for this trip. Just found the auction on the 8500, and WOW! I guess I am out. I suppose one 8500 is enough for me though.

 

[SkippyKtm]

Looks like the ebay boys have your gasoline well covered for this trip. Just found the auction on the 8500, and WOW! I guess I am out. I suppose one 8500 is enough for me though.

Yeah, I found it too:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120718899941&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en
Looks like its doing very well!

 

[Saw Dr.]

Just moving this back to the top. This saw deserves to do well for several reasons.

1. It is an 8500!
2. It is a true worksaw and in proper original working condition
3. It is nicely kept
4. Seller is obviously a stand-up guy

Can't figure out for the life of me why you would sell it, but I am watching with interest.
Hope things are going well with the cleanup. I was flying at 31000' yesterday and could not figure out why there were long straight demarcations on the ground that I had never seen before. Several of them crossed lakes and the like. It took me until the afternoon to figure out that they were the tornado tracks. VERY long and wide one south of Birmingham. Several more elsewhere. Just looks like someone took an eraser to a painting of the landscape, and made brown eraser tracks.
FYI, the flooding west of the Mississippi and north of Memphis is what I would call catastrophic. The news is not giving this NEARLY enough attention. We flew for nearly 100 miles on the arrival into Memphis the other day, where nearly all of the land beneath us was flooded. Casino's and small towns too.

 

[TonyRumore]

Is there a gun in there?

 

[Hank Chinaski]

Is there a gun in there?

Are you asking if there is a gun in my load out?

if so, I'd have to counter with: Why do you ask?

 

[TonyRumore]

In a situation like that, for your own safety and those around you, there should be a gun in your load out.

Tony Rumore
Tromix Corp

 

[Hank Chinaski]

In a situation like that, for your own safety and those around you, there should be a gun in your load out.

Tony Rumore
Tromix Corp

Tony,
I agree, on a personal level, however on an "official" level, a gun rack would most likely be negatively viewed on a church sponsored, mission driven endeavor.

Britt

FWIW: we are not without protection and yes, I feel it's a very real concern for all volunteers and workers in a disaster area.

 

[little possum]

I like the HD. Whered the rack come from up top? I dont think Id ever have a use for one, but it looks cool!

 

[Hank Chinaski]

I like the HD. Whered the rack come from up top? I dont think Id ever have a use for one, but it looks cool!

Thanks, the rack started life as a KargoMaster that I got off craigslist that was built for a hightop camper shell. I cut/lowered it 3", and narrowed it 2", then added 1" square tube and heavy gauge expanded metal on top over the shell. My wife drove it under a parking deck and caved the bed corners in (the new chevy sheetmetal stinks), so I followed that up w/straighting the rails, then putting 2x3" angle all along the top edge of the bed and welding it into the rack leg mounts. Now, I have no doubt that the rack will support 800-1000lbs. It makes a very nice stable platform to work off of (giving me an additional 7' or so reach w/my polesaw ) and you can clip in fall protection to the top rails if you want, or are leaning one way or another.

It's still a work in progress as I've got to add my lights to the top on a light bar that will lay down via linear actuator. When it's done counting the bumper and headlights, I'll have over 1k watts facing forwards and it's getting floods on the sides and back as well.
I'll post up pics as I go along.

 

[caleath]

#37,


So did you make a choice on a big saw. I like your personal setup. I am in need of a new truck, mine is a 97 Ford with 200,000 plus miles. It is a good truck but would be afraid of getting off too far and having trouble. I am a mechanic and know how that stuff happens all the time.

I am thinking of a e-350 this time. I drive one daily and have grown to love being able to lock things up.

Anyway good luck with your cleanup help.

 

[Hank Chinaski]

Thanks ya'll. I really like my truck a lot. Still have tons I want to do to it, but like me, it's always under construction.

Big Saw: I havn't 100% decided, but I'm leaning hard toward a ms660. I've got a line on a couple used ones, and with the $ from my 8500 and some swap meet $ (4x4) from this weekend, I hope to have enough to buy a new 660

 

[atvguns]

Thanks ya'll. I really like my truck a lot. Still have tons I want to do to it, but like me, it's always under construction.

Big Saw: I havn't 100% decided, but I'm leaning hard toward a ms660. I've got a line on a couple used ones, and with the $ from my 8500 and some swap meet $ (4x4) from this weekend, I hope to have enough to buy a new 660

 

[STLfirewood]

I think the work you are doing is great. I do have a couple questions. How do you decide who you help? Have you ever had a negitive reaction from tree companys because you could be taking their work? What about someone getting hurt on a property?

Scott

 

[Hank Chinaski]

I think the work you are doing is great. I do have a couple questions. How do you decide who you help? Have you ever had a negitive reaction from tree companys because you could be taking their work? What about someone getting hurt on a property?

Scott

Scott,
Thanks for the q's they are all valid and good ones.

Who we help: when we deploy to a disaster, it's usually a day-week after initial disaster, a lot of the paperwork is already done. Neighbors/home owners/church folk report into the churches if they've (or neighbors) got damage. We have evaluators that go out and rate the jobs by severity and also scout for more jobs as they go. We try to help folks with trees IN the house first, ON the house second, and AGAINST the house, third (general rule).

Tree Co: never seen a "real" tree service that didn't wave and say thanks as we do right back. The ONLY one's I've ever seen scowl were the vultures in Uhaul trucks. We also are trained enough when to say no. We leave the jobs we can't handle safely, or require more/better equipment than what we have, so in effect, we are actually helping the real tree services as we're doing only the nickle/dime jobs and they can concentrate on the bigger money making jobs. It's all about abilities/limitations and mutual respect. We've helped tree svcs before (sharpening chains, drinks etc) and done so gladly.

Insurance: the property owners sign waivers, the volunteers sign waivers. Personally, I'm a disabled Vet, and would go to the VA if hurt, others on the team have their own personal insurances. If equipment gets torn up, our church pays. I use/carry my own equipment and if I tear it up, I pay.

Travel (you didn't ask, but it's a good place):
Our church owns the trailer/equip, as well as a skid steer w/grapple. We use our personal vehicles to tow with. The church and the Southern Baptist Association pay for fuel and saw oil and travel fuel. We pay for any prep/repairs to our vehicles.

I've been asked several times: "why?" because it's what I do. As a team, it's simply what we do. We help, and share our love for fellow man in times of need, and attempt to do so with a demeanor of Christ, but we don't preach at folks while we're running saws or tarping off their roof. We will stop and talk and fellowship with folks if they approach us, but we don't force the issue. We've had lots of lunches made/bought for us in the field, and some folks make donations as they are able (goes to the SB missions board, not "us" directly).
It's a very rewarding and fulfilling fellowship, and I recommend trying it if any are able to do so.

 

[purdyite]

Great setup--we are in the infant stages of making a crew like yours here. Worked last Sat in SE OK. Our hangup seems to be training, leadership, and paperwork. Which Church? Did this take a long time to set up? Are you "pre-approved" so that you are allowed in or contacted early on?

 

[caleath]

I've been asked several times: "why?" because it's what I do. As a team, it's simply what we do. We help, and share our love for fellow man in times of need, and attempt to do so with a demeanor of Christ, but we don't preach at folks while we're running saws or tarping off their roof. We will stop and talk and fellowship with folks if they approach us, but we don't force the issue. We've had lots of lunches made/bought for us in the field, and some folks make donations as they are able (goes to the SB missions board, not "us" directly).
It's a very rewarding and fulfilling fellowship, and I recommend trying it if any are able to do so.


It is very rewarding...if you get a chance to do something like this do it...

The group I work through works the same way as this one.

 

[HILLBILLYREDNEC]

Saw load out

I was wondering if you had and any pole saws that are muscle powered? You guys have nice setup You guys use portable two way radios ? I would think a second bigger trailer could be set up as a mobile HQ-Secondary supply trailer.

 

[purdyite]

Yep. Here's why I do it:

"...Can a woman forget the baby she nurses? Can she feel no kindness for the child to which she gave birth? Even if she could foret her children, I WILL NOT FORGET YOU. See, I have written your name on my hand." --Isaiah 49:15-16

Gotta figure this rep thing out...