Arborists provide aid to Hurricane Beryl-hit island

AS the news of Hurricane Beryl broke, DART’s trustees’ chat was flooded with updates. The earliest-forming Category 5 storm in the Caribbean’s history, it intensified quickly. By the time it made landfall on Grenada and the island of Carriacou, it had become a catastrophic force of nature.

The question arose among the trustees: “Do we deploy a team?”

At DART, we only deploy where help is both needed and wanted. I scoured the internet, watching video footage of the devastation. Buildings were destroyed, roofs torn away and communities isolated. The island was in dire straits, but did they require the kind of help we could provide? A news release clarified that the people of Carriacou were in need of chainsaws and tree-cutting tools to clear vital routes and restore some semblance of normality.

The answer was clear yes and the Trustees agreed that we should deploy.

Within days, a team was assembled: Will Clifford (team leader), Will Wood, Owen Jamieson and Craig Parker (medic). We coordinated with NaDMA (the National Disaster Management Agency), which provided us with an official invitation to the island requesting help and we were off, carrying essential PPE, three chainsaws donated by Stein, our long-term sponsor, and a chainsaw from Honey Brothers. We also had camping equipment and enough rations to last us two weeks. With long layovers, the journey wasn’t straightforward, but we finally reached Grenada on 11 July.

Arriving in Grenada, everything seemed like business as usual – to our surprise. Speaking with a taxi driver we were informed that it was a very different picture on the island of Carriacou. Grenadian locals told us the island was ‘gone’. Many had volunteered, but eventually they had to get back to their own lives. 

Waiting at the ferry port to Carriacou, the vibe went from one that was laid back to one of panic and concern. It was chaotic and at times felt unsafe. We waited around six hours for our ferry to depart. It was packed to bursting with aid – water, food, building materials, a JCB and a few other vehicles. Our plan was for us to also take a vehicle, but we were informed that would not be possible.

This was a woman’s home outside of the NaDMA headquarters. (Image: Supplied)

We landed in Carriacou at around 10 pm, we were met with the first taste of what was to come – a huge building with ‘Welcome to Carriacou’ written on its side with the roof torn off.

We woke at 5 am the next day to nature’s alarm clock. We had arranged to meet NaDMA, who we hoped to work with. Our drive over was our first real look at the damage to the island. It was a disaster zone. Every building in sight was damaged, with roofs completely gone or walls in bits. Powerlines dangled in the middle of the road and debris blocked the way. We saw the occasional person contemplating the rubble of what once would have been their home.

One of the things that really shocked me was that the island was brown. All the leaves had been blown away. Trees were down everywhere and those left standing had all their branches blown off.

We met with NaDMA, shared our objectives and discussed the best ways to assist. Our work began with a two-day island clean-up, clearing small trees and overhangs with the Grenadian MP and 200 other volunteers on the island. 

We were sent to a large tree that had fallen across a roadway, blocking access to several houses. The tree rested precariously atop powerlines, a risk to everyone in the area. We handled it efficiently and safely, utilising the climbing and rigging kits Stein had provided. The removal of the tree reopened a critical access route for many households in an already difficult situation. 

The first building we saw getting off the ferry in Carriacou. (Image: Supplied)

Over the next few days, we joined forces with the Caribbean Disaster Response Unit (CDRU), including emergency responders from St. Lucia and Dominica (one of whom had worked with DART on one of our previous deployments). Together, we cleared roads and tackled dangerous tasks like removing a toxic manchineel tree from a local business. We found specialist protective gear to wear while working on the manchineel tree as it is one of the most toxic trees in the world, with a milky-white sap containing numerous toxins that can cause blistering. We were fortunate enough to learn this from a local arborist we met at the docks. 

Training is a crucial part of our deployments. It empowers the local community with the skills and knowledge to continue the work we initiate long after we have left. In Carriacou, we conducted hands-on training sessions with the CDRU and community members while carrying out road clearance operations. Our on-the-job training focused on safe tree removal, chainsaw use and maintenance. Training not only helps them to manage current recovery efforts more effectively but also builds resilience against future disasters, leaving a lasting legacy of self-reliance and preparedness.

A fallen tree on a powerline preventing access to a community. (Image: Supplied)

Over the next several days we worked with the CDRU, tackling the hardest trees ourselves and teaching the group with suitable trees. It was gruelling work in the July temperatures, but we pushed through, driven by the knowledge that our work would help the community rebuild.

Despite the challenges, we formed invaluable connections with other aid organisations such as All Hands and Hearts, which offered a hand to move trees we cut up, and we continued training the CDRU team. 

The All Hands and Hearts charity had volunteers taking up residence with a local, but there were too many of them. They had another residence, but were unable to access it due to the long road there being blocked by multiple fallen trees. Under our supervision and guidance, the CDRU cleared the road, allowing the volunteers to reach their new residence safely – a big help for the island.

A highly toxic manchineel tree lies on top of a local business. (Image: Supplied)

In the short time we were in Carriacou we felt we delivered a huge amount of value. However, the extent of damage was vast. We felt more work and training could be hugely beneficial and have a lasting impact for the island. A second team was deployed to take over from us and continue the work we started.

By 22 July, our first team had returned to Heathrow, having laid the groundwork for continued support in Carriacou. Our deployment may have ended, but the mission continues, ensuring the people of Carriacou and Grenada have the tools and knowledge to rebuild stronger. The CDRU informed us it had begun teaching the local police force about safe chainsaw use, building on our legacy. 

Craig giving instruction on chainsaw maintenance. (Image: Supplied)

This deployment showcased the essence of DART: quick decisions, rapid mobilisation and impactful action. Its success serves as a testament to the dedication of our volunteers, the generosity of our supporters and the resilience of the communities we serve.

The entire deployment cost the charity just £1,177.

Thanks are due to our main sponsors, Stein, Air Link, and the Arb Association, for making these deployments possible. Further thanks go to Honey Brothers and Holiday Extras for their contributions and also to all DART’s responders who completed the pre-deployment training we host. Please visit our website for more photos and videos.