Tree surgeon volunteer joins hurricane clear-up

Huen Coloma (second left) is leading a team of tree surgeon volunteers working in Jamaica

A tree surgeon from Sheffield is leading part of the clean-up operation in Jamaica in the wake of devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.

Winds reaching up to 185mph (297km/h) last month left dozens of people dead and thousands more homeless, with many businesses destroyed.

Huen Coloma said he and a team of volunteers from the Dart (Disaster Arborist Response Team) charity had been clearing debris and fallen trees from main supply routes to ensure vital medical supplies and aid could reach the worst-hit areas.

Speaking from Jamaica, Mr Coloma, from Meersbrook, who has volunteered for the charity for 10 years, said the situation was "as bad" as anything he had seen in similar crisis situations.

"The damage here is comparable to Hurricane Maria that hit Dominica and really restructured the landscape. It washed away whole streets," he said.

"Around the country, we've had to make detours everywhere, avoiding landslides and fallen trees in the dark and buildings buried in the mud."

Members of the Dart charity are clearing debris and fallen trees from main supply routes

Mr Coloma said the team of four from Dart had carried out most of their work on the south west route from Mandeville to Treasure Beach.

They had also had to deal with extreme temperatures through the day of up to 40C (104F) and high humidity.

The tree surgeon said local residents' response to Dart's contribution to the clean-up effort had been "positive".

"We've found locals hacking away at roots and trees with machetes which may take them a couple of days," he said.

"We might be able to go in and, with their help, we'll clear that in the space of two hours, perhaps, and then they can get on to the next place, the next obstruction."

Mr Coloma said a lot of the Dart volunteers' time had been spent around fishing hubs near the coast.

"It's so important to clear that because they can bring food into the area and all around here are severe food shortages," he said.

The team found fallen electricity cables had blocked a road after Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica

Glenn Bushnell, co-ordinating Dart support from the UK , said the work done by Mr Coloma and other volunteers was "crucial".

"We never turn up unannounced. We liaised with the Jamaican government who wanted us to come," he explained.

"Through our work, we open the doors for medical supplies and food and water getting through to people who need it."

Mr Coloma said the "resilience" shown by the people in Jamaica had been "inspirational".

"Everywhere I've been, people are just getting on with clearing up, tidying up, being positive and incredibly resilient," he said.

"Many have family members unaccounted for and homes destroyed, but they are carrying on."

Mr Coloma added that before the Dart team returned to the UK, they aimed to donate their tools - including ropes, PPE equipment and chainsaws - to trained local residents to "build resilience" for the future.

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