As a trained Emergency Volunteer Center Chainsaw Team volunteer, you will learn how you can help your community continue to respond to the derecho and be better positioned to connect volunteers with community needs in response to future disasters.
We still have over 350 cases that need assistance from skilled volunteers who can do tree removal and clean-up efforts from the derecho. You can help those community members by becoming trained in safe tree removal and contributing to clean-up efforts. Volunteers will work with instructors to learn how to safely remove tree debris by pulling branches and hauling pieces away, operating a chainsaw or bucket lift, tree felling, or climbing. Volunteers can focus on specific skills based on their interests and competencies. UMCOR will be delivering training this training that includes some classroom components and hands-on training.
Training will take place Saturday, April 23rd, 2022 from 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM to become a certified chainsaw operator. A lunch break will be provided so that individuals may go get lunch offsite or bring a sack lunch. Please register separately for each training session you will attend. Training sessions include the following topics:
8:00 - 12:00 Lift Operations/Rigging Training
OR Chainsaw Basic Training/Safety Class *
12:00-12:45 Break for Lunch (Either Bring your own lunch or there are restaurants a mile up the road.
1:00-2:00pm Stop the Bleed Class 1
1:00-3:00pm Climbing/Rigging Training
* Students taking the basics class need to bring their own saw if they have one. (PPE will be provided unless student brings their own.)
** No flip flops or open toed shoes for any classes. Steel toe recommended.
Qualifications & Physical Abilities
For this role, you do not need any previous chainsaw/sawyer experience. We do ask that you be able to safely navigate uneven ground that may be found in residential yards and can safely work around others who are using heavy machinery, including lifts, rigging and chainsaws. We ask that you accept the responsibilities of working in a dangerous environment, and sign a waiver of UMCOR liability. We do ask for a minimum of 8 hours of assistance in the spring of 2022.
Impact
By serving as a Chainsaw Team Member you will ensure are helping the Emergency Volunteer Center maximize resources, machinery rentals, and donated sawyer services to help our community recover from the derecho. In the future, you will be invited to serve in this capacity in the initial days of disaster response to help quickly connect volunteers from across the community and nation with the local need.
