Volunteer Work

[Tree Trimmer]

I put on all of my PPE in posting this, so flame away...

I usually go down with my local church to volunteer my services when there's storm clean-up. We usually go down on a Tue. or Wed. and come back on the weekends. Since I do have the expertise in rigging and hazardous removals, I end up doing quite a bit of work that local companies may have already bid on.

Just about all of the people we help out are not able to pay (many don't have insurance) for a $2000 plus removal of a tree. So they'll apply for aid, and if approved, I'll go in and do the job for free.

Often times I'll refuse to remove some salvageable trees or green-stick broken limbs (attached hangers) that will likely remain for several months or years. To me that's stepping on the local guys' toes and taking away legitamate business. Sometimes another volunteer will come in behind me and do this work anyway, but the directors of the relief effort will usually listen to experience and move on to the more needy situations.

Two Questions:

1. Do any of you do this? You can actually get an expenses deduction and sometime s a service deduction that's as or more valuable than working on the books.

2. Can we start a new thread that acts as a basic directory of Tree services (names, credentials and their locations) in disaster areas without breaking the rules?

I can look at the yellow pages when I get there, but filtering out bona-fide tree services from hacks takes up time that I don't have. I would be more than happy to refer some of the non-emergency work to a reputable local company to follow up on in the following months and years.

 

[Reed]

I'm sorry but I think I misunderstood the first part - if they apply for aid and get approved, you go in and do the work for free....and then what?

 

[Tree Trimmer]

We usually drag all the brush to the side of the street, and FEMA, or whoever is taking care of the brush comes and gets it. The home owner goes on with their lives, and we go on to the next job. The jobs are coordinated with the Red Cross, Southern Baptists, Salvation Army, etc... Many of the folks we take care of are elderly, or significantly disadvantaged in some other way.

Case in point, we helped a lady last year after Isabel with a 26" dbh tulip poplar. The roots had let go on one side, and the tree was leaning toward two other trees that were slightly smaller (~80 ft tall). The lowest bid she had received was $2800. I don't know the details of her financial strain, but since the tree wasn't on the house, and there was so much devastation everywhere else, the insurance company wouldn't even consider helping to pay for it.

We showed up with 8 volunteers. Two and a half hours later the whole tree was piled up next to the road. I did have to climb it (no it wasn't salvagable), but we only had to lower half the brush, and it didn't fork until the very top. The $2800 wasn't exactly gouging, it was a difficult tree. When I asked the next door neighbor's for permission to bomb out the logs, they were happy to let us if it meant the tree wouldn't damage their property.

 

[buckduck]

Trimmer:
.
It is a bit unclear what you are asking, overall. I guess I don’t understand where the $2000 or $2800 comes in… but, yes, some folks do pro-bono work out there in disaster situations. However, I don’t think I would ever cut where someone else had bid with me knowing about it. Nor would you ever need to.
It’s like this, you can spend much more time than you could ever afford at one of these ‘parties’ and never step on anyone’s toes. There’s more work than can be done, always. Anyone who thinks different, has never been to one.

I would make a suggestion, though…. Either you are first in and only do emergency clearing for access, or you wait until things die down and it’s obvious who can’t afford to have the work done. (or both) This environment is overwhelming and tends to make you feel extremely small against such things. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart. If you choose to go in there and do a few ‘removals’ you’ll most likely get disheartened and think you made little difference. Especially when you can’t determine which ‘removal’ to do. (and you won’t be able to) If you go in early, hit ‘em hard and fast, do what you can do to help and move on down the street. Yeah, some folks have already called a tree guy and are in line waiting. You’re not taking that crew’s work, you’re just clearing that person’s driveway or doorway and moving on.
If you go in after the dust has settled some, the churches are good contacts. They will often know of people who can’t afford to hire the work and don’t know where to turn.

Sounds like with your church group that you are making a difference. That's all one can hope for.

 

[buckduck]

..... i.e.

Ten or twelve years ago (I think) a category 5 tornado hit middle Tennessee (Buford Pusser country). This tornado carved a huge path and left nothing standing. If I would have tried any ‘removals’ I wouldn’t have gotten anything done. As it was, I worked from Selmer past Adamsville (we’re all familiar with where that is, right?) and helped a lot of folks in the hills of Tennessee. I found one family all gathered on a back road where they not only couldn’t get to their house, but couldn’t even see anything until I cleared the way. In that one case, when I cut enough limbs and brush away to see through to where the house was, they realized it was gone. That evening I fell in with a line crew and helped clear transmission lines.

....Last year in Memphis after ‘Hurricane Elvis’ I stopped to apologize to a lady standing in her front yard on the phone ….. huge Oak laid across her house. I could do it, but couldn’t spare the time. Across the street, her neighbor had a good size Oak on his house, but only the top on his carport blocking two cars (and destroying a VW parked beside it) I spent at least an hour freeing her neighbor. While I was there a crew drove up with a crane and took the tree off the lady’s house in three pieces and left it at the curb…. $8,000. They didn’t appear to be local folks. As I was leaving, the fellow told me the crew offered to take the trunk off the rest of his house for $4,000.

Hey, you do what you can do, and move on. And every little bit helps.
In clearing access, you won’t have any conflicts. I don’t know why you would want to or ever need to do work where someone else has bid during these times.

But hey, speaking of church groups and helping out……
(and could be what you were asking about, Trimmer)
Check this out…(that’s aborsite’s own “heartland” up in the tree in one of the photos.)
http://www.unitedweservemil.org/photos.asp

and this was their beginning…
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11073&highlight=thanksgiving

 

[Stumper]

Tree trimmer, I say 'good on you". I can't do free work for very many people.- I have to earn a living. In a storm's aftermath the legitimate pros are all swamped anyway-if you help a few people with a legit need for help then-" May God bless and lets go take care of the next person on the list.":angel:

 

[Tree Trimmer]

Originally posted by buckduck
It is a bit unclear what you are asking, overall.

1. Was meant to ask:

"Do any of you ever volunteer your services during a disaster recovery?"

Obviously locals are not there to volunteer, but we met individuals from as far away as Texas when helping out with Isabel's clean-up. It can be a very rewarding experience if you're into helping others from time to time (without assuming that you'll be paid for what you do).

2. Was meant to ask:

"How can I get in touch with non-hacks for recomendations on trees that are not to be 'removed' from a driveway, house, or that just don't really need immediate attention?"

Maybe you are local, and I get to recomend you.



If think you can free up a weekend to go down and help out, then go. The places we go always feed and house us. The only expense is gas to get down there which our church usually takes care of.

Perhaps your neighbors in Florida aren't worth your time. As for me and my friends, we care, and can go, so we go.

TT