Hurricane cleanup?

[screamin400]

If this big hurricane coming into Florida does make it to the Carolina's I have a friend I could stay with to do some contracting. That is if he is still there. I am not set up with fema and have no desire. My buddy could put the feelers out for work before I got there. I would be take a tractor with a grapple and bucket. Have any of you done it?

 

[PJ The Kid]

I work for a municipality and do storm cleanup. We recently had a microcell blow thru and I was running equipment and mobile repair on other crews equipment during the cleanup. It is hard on equipment working on mostly asphalt and very time consuming. I had 160 hr on the clock in 2 weeks cleaning up the city I work for along with contractors hired by the city. That was just clearing the streets and right of ways 10 ft back from the street.

 

[screamin400]

We have never had anything like that here. I always hear about the guys that went to the storm and did well. I would be the one who didn't. Lots to look at here.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

If this big hurricane coming into Florida does make it to the Carolina's I have a friend I could stay with to do some contracting. That is if he is still there. I am not set up with fema and have no desire. My buddy could put the feelers out for work before I got there. I would be take a tractor with a grapple and bucket. Have any of you done it?

Are you licensed and insured, with workman's comp, etc ? Carolina's are tough on business regulations. Also, I wouldn't be running around with NY plates and cell #. Things to think about.

 

[screamin400]

Are you licensed and insured, with workman's comp, etc ? Carolina's are tough on business regulations. Also, I wouldn't be running around with NY plates and cell #. Things to think about.

Licensed and insured

 

[daugen]

as one in the path, thankfully with a grapple and rear rake and lots of chain saws, I think your idea is good if you can keep your operating costs down. Take lots of copies of your certificates of insurance with you. Then how do you get the business? Drive around? Will your friend have the contacts. I would think a suburban setting would be best; country people fix their own, city the government does it. Somewhere in the middle should be fertile ground if a lot of trees get knocked down.
And take lots of spare chain saw chains, supplies. They will sell it out quickly.

 

[TheMan419]

Lodging will also be an issue unless your buddy is housing you.

Finding fuel and supplies will be tough also.

 

[Gem99ultra]

After Hurricane Ike we had guys coming around from all over the US, bring mostly rented equipment, sleeping in a rented travel trailer and making PILES of cash. Enough cash to buy their own equipment in a short period of time. Hurricane chasing is a lucrative business.

I know a lot of residents frown upon the chasers, but the truth is, in time of need, they're a sight for sore eyes. Very Welcome. Not all chasers gouge customers either. Yeah, I did have some stop by offering to move a large oak tree off of my house for a measly grand. Yep - a thousand dollars for a few minutes of work. And no, that did not include cutting it up and hauling it off - that was to pick it up from leaning on the house to sitting it down in the yard. Unscrupulous for sure, especially knowing the dire straights the residents were in for a thousand other emergency problems. Those kind of guy I strongly dislike, and quickly told them to move on - I wasn't going to be their 'huckleberry'.

So, I say pack up and go. Take your own supplies with you, and lots of them. You'll be on your own pretty much, but you can sock away a very nice nest egg in a short period of time.

 

[PILOON]

Yes, go for it but be fair with your rates, don't scalp those poor devastated folks.

 

[Rmart30]

Lodging will also be an issue unless your buddy is housing you.

Finding fuel and supplies will be tough also.

That was the case when I worked the coast after katrina.. Figure the first week maybe 2 as its like a camping trip in the wilderness and take all the supplies you will need.
My biggest tip woul dbe to take a small generator and microwave with you. also dont expect to be using a debit or credit card since no power and phone lines.. take lots of 1's and 5 and 10's .. and a lot of change to be able to pay exact cash.
Also job boxes locked and chained to keep your stuff from walking off.

 

[darmstrong2319]

When Irene come through here it was bad enough that all debris had to be on the side of the road. When some of the other storms come through debris had to be taken off but mostly people just wanted to get trees and such cut and piled. There was one outfit from out of town charged $300 an hour for him, one helper and small skid steer with grapple. They stayed very busy and were cheaper than most. Some were very high. I was flooded myself and couldn't work lost tractor and it was on trailer. I don't know how they do things in the bigger cities but not everyone in the rural areas have the equipment or ability to cut and take down trees and sheds so if it's and I hate to say this bad enough then there is money to be made.

 

[daugen]

the amount of damage from these storms in Texas and Florida and Puerto Rico is extraordinary. It will take a lot of hands to repair,
and lot of opportunities for work. Anyone have any stories or info on contractors who have headed South?
I wonder when the building materials will start running out.
All that sheetrock heaved out, banner day for lumberyards if they weren't flooded too.
I just hope folks don't gouge; big difference between 25 percent hurricane premium and 200 percent.
So I'm really hoping a lot of able folks went down to help. I believe they will be a sight for sore eyes as has been said.
We are supposed to help each other anyway.

Am also glad the Navy finally got onshore in Puerto Rico. What is going on there is a real tragedy.
And these are our citizens too. So many places in the Caribbean destroyed, where do you start?

I'd love to be piloting a small tramp freighter in the Caribbean bringing in supplies. Never got that license but
I've boated through the BVI's and easily could imagine a life on a ship down there. Of course I'd have a farm someplace on my port
island...bananas? I could just change my avatar to a banana tree...

 

[daugen]

When Irene come through here I was flooded myself and couldn't work lost tractor and it was on trailer. I don't know how they do things in the bigger cities but not everyone in the rural areas have the equipment or ability to cut and take down trees and sheds so if it's and I hate to say this bad enough then there is money to be made.

Good to know. Means more opportunities if one is willing to drive the back roads.
You are only 45 miles away from me, and I guess what the Bay River flooded you out? Like the Tar River does up here.
I'm sorry you got flooded. Makes a horrible mess of things and drowns all kinds of animals. When I bought my farm I made sure I was on high ground ten miles from the Pamlico, but there are water marks on the foundation over a foot high. Since then I have done major water diversion ditching so unlikely that will ever happen again, but you know it's flat here...and sometimes it takes a while for the water to get back to the River, some river or bay. And meanwhile water sits on the roots of many of my plantings and drowns them. Better plants than people but annoying.
We have a member from Texas whose farm sits high too but there are dips in the local roads and they all flood closed, so he can't get out, as a senior fireman, to help.
If you can't get your truck out, you are pretty much beat because all your tools and supplies are in it. And not too many of us have hovercraft.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I too, have a great deal of sympathy for those folks in Porto Rico. The shame of it all is that their government is totally bankrupt with about $8B in the red. They can't help those in their own territory if they wanted. And with the massive amount of damage, those folks are going to need more than just a little help. It will be like rebuilding an entire state or country.

Still, we have our own tax paying citizens here to help. By the numbers, those here need more help that those in Porto Rico. Where does it all end?