Virginia Dept. of Forestry Pre-positions Chain Saw and 4WD Hummer Crews
to Assist in Weather Recovery and Stranded-Motorist Rescue Operations

The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) is assembling teams of employees and specialty vehicles today and sending them to two areas in northwestern Virginia in case they are needed to assist with recovery efforts associated with a winter storm that’s pushing through the Commonwealth today.

“By pre-positioning these specially trained chain saw crews and four-wheel-drive Hummers in Harrisonburg and Winchester, we’ll be ready to assist as needed,” said John Miller, VDOF’s director of resource protection. “Agency employees from almost every corner of the state are on their way to these two cities to help in any recovery efforts in this portion of the Commonwealth, which is expected to take the brunt of the storm’s ice and snow mix.”

Weather forecasters are calling for at least ¼ to ½ inch of ice and 2 – 4 inches of snow in northwestern Virginia.

“Any time you have that much ice coating trees, there is a high probability that numerous trees will break and fall across either roads or power lines,” Miller said. “By having trained sawyers in the area standing by, they will be able to respond quickly if the calls comes in to assist.”

VDOF is also sending several Humvees that could be used to rescue stranded motorists.

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Note to Editors/Reporters/Producers: VDOF employees will be available early Wednesday morning in both Harrisonburg and Winchester for interviews prior to being dispatched to assist with any recovery efforts.