A local tree surgeon is about to leave for deployment with the charity, Disaster Arborist Response Team (DART) to help clear the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Matt Long, who owns and runs Chapel Tree Services in Ross-on-Wye, will be heading out to the Caribbean on Friday, October 6th. He will be travelling with six other tree surgeons from across the UK to help assist in the relief operation after the area was devastated by hurricanes.

Matt will be using his 20 years of arboricultural experience as a volunteer with specialist disaster relief charity DART International UK.

They deployed their first team to the Caribbean on Sunday, September 24th. The members reported that the island is 90% devastated and distributing aid will remain a huge challenge until the main ring road around the island is cleared of tree debris. This is where the DART team comes in, and their members are believed to be the first UK based team to arrive on the ground in Dominica. 

Not surprisingly communications are down across the island, but Matt’s wife Jenny, who also volunteers with DART, told the Ross Gazette:“We have received confirmation that the DART team have based themselves in the airport fire station and they’re already at work clearing roads. Our partners Rescue Global are flying in more water and fuel for the chainsaws later.”

She added that the government had said they could use 20 teams clearing roads but DART has organised a second team, of which Matt is a member.

She said:“Matt is pleased to be heading out and offering his help. The present situation in the Caribbean is exactly what Matt and the other volunteers have trained for. DART set out with a fairly simple idea of creating an organisation that would help professionals from the UK Arboricultural Industry donate their skills, energy and experience to help clear fallen trees and debris following natural disasters.See the full story in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition here