Davey Tree Sends Workers to Storm-Ravaged South

KENT, Ohio – In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, hundreds of Davey Tree Expert Co. employees have headed to the damaged regions of Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. The employees, sent to trim and remove trees from power lines, are working hand-in-hand with utility companies to help restore power to the Southeast.

The mass exodus of Davey crews to the southern U.S. began just before Katrina made landfall and involved employees from as far as Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The employees drove in their trucks through the night in long caravans to begin work as soon as possible.

The crews, which are moved at the direction and discretion of the utility companies, have been shocked by what they’ve seen, said Harry Claypool, vice president of southern operations for eastern utility services. “Our people are describing what they see there as just massive destruction,” Claypool said. “Some areas are just wiped out.”

While working long days and nights, the teams are often laboring without abundant drinking water or food. To help the crews keep safe in such stressful working conditions, Davey safety representatives have been dispatched to the area. The representatives are encouraging the crews to work professionally, providing moral support and even handing out supplies.

Despite the difficult circumstances, the crews are proud to help the area return to normalcy, said Steve Marshall, vice president and general manager for Eastern utility services. “Our thoughts are with those directly affected by the storm,” he said. “Like many people throughout the world, Davey employees are eager to help out however they can. We are grateful to our utility partners throughout North America who have released our employees so they can do storm recovery work in the Southeast.”

The Davey Tree Expert Co. provides tree, shrub and lawn care, large tree moving, grounds management, vegetation management and consulting services throughout North America. Founded in 1880, Davey has more than 5,000 employees and is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.