Hurrican IVAN clean-up For Hire Rate $/hr

[Fireman_dcb]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It's a $1000/run bill here.
If you have a campfire,don't get a permit, and the neighbors call the fire dept, it's a 1000 dollar bill. Same price if it is your house. Now, if my house burns down, I would call that a disaster, same as a hurricane destroying it. Why doesn't the fire dept put out the fire for free? )</font>

'cause the average pumper runs about $200,000, air packs are running about 2k, a set of turnout gear (pants, jacket, hood, helment, boots and gloves) runs about $ 1,200. Then toss in property taxes, heating bills, electricity, etc and the cost of just staying open is enormous. The amount of money that communities give out to local fire departments is shrinking. Also, a growing number of insurance companies reimburse fire departments for the work that they do which is why fire departments send out a bill.

 

[RCannon]

yes I know....
I asked the question to provoke the thought... Why should he do it for free when the fire dept charges you simply to help recoup the equipment maintenance and costs. I perfectly understand this concept............sheesh..... just read my other post

and FWIW... ---oh never mind

 

[penokee]

I was involved with a FEMA flood disaster 2 years ago, and FEMA paid for cleanup and repair of publically owned property, but not private property. They did give guideance on getting low interest loans for private business and home owners.
I believe you should be paid at least enough to cover your expenses. A sad fact of life is that there are "Trip and Fall" lawyers everywhere, and even in this tragic circumstance you want to be carry adequate Liability Insurance.
You should be able to find out who the truly destitute people are from your relatives, their Church , the Salvation Army, etc.

Safety must be upermost in your mind. I also worked 2 tornadoes in the past, and working with sprung trees can be lethal. Take care.

penokee /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[ShantyBranch]

Thanks for all the input. I have been so busy I have not been able to check post.
Spent many hours on JD4500 "Charlene" last few days. As far as charging it has been on case by case basis. Most people offer and sometimes I get a little. Sometimes depends on the time I spend at their property. Some say send a bill, their insurance companies allow for debris clean-up.
One guy needed all day of clearing just to get to his front door. Most of the work I have been doing for my brother and surrounding neighbors. Not looking to adveritise. I need to get out of here and back to my family.
I am only looking to recover some gas money and wear and tear at this point. I did drive 350 miles to get down here. But it is gratifing to help these people put their lives back together. But no big deal, I enjoy the tractor time. Just hate that is under these circumstances. Very sad. BTW I do have hay tines attached to my bucket, these things are awesome for picking up all this crap.
Posted some pics at website:
www.pcavworks.com

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[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Very sad. )</font>
ShantyBranch. Thank you for posting these devastating pictures. I'm not sure most people ever really get a good idea of what these massive storms can do, but you have given a very good pictorial of some of the terrible damage these folks have suffered.
There is nothing wrong at all with you making a reasonable amount of money to help clean up some of the mess.
When I do work for people around this area, I usually get $45/hour for hogging, and $55/hour for backhoe work.
There are so many gougers in all the damaged areas that I'm sure there are plenty of people who would be HAPPY to get things done for these prices.
There's no shame in making an honest amount of money, and for that area, this is modest. Good luck, and I hope you're out of the way of the next one. John