Leading power tool
manufacturer Makita supplied a range of its chainsaws to DART International UK
to assist with the charity’s work in the Bahamas, following hurricane Dorian.
DART (Disaster
Arborist Response Team) International UK is a charitable organisation that
deploys its all-volunteer Humanitarian Response Team to deliver aid, equipment
and training to communities affected by disaster worldwide. The team was most
recently deployed to the Bahamas, to assist with the international relief
effort following hurricane Dorian.
Makita supplied 50cc
chainsaws and 79cc chainsaws to DART International UK. The tools were used by
the team of five arborists deployed to the Bahamas for tasks such as clearing
debris and creating safe passages for other aid organisations to access affected
areas.
The team also offered
safety and maintenance training to the Bahamian National Trust based at the
Rand National Park, where the DART team were deployed. The training aimed to
assist the Bahamian National Trust with continuing the clearance and restoration
work at the Rand National Park – one of the island’s most important eco-tourism
attractions.
Mike Metcalfe, Trustee
and Operations Manager at DART International UK said: “Hurricane Dorian is the
strongest and most catastrophic hurricane recorded in the Bahama’s history,
leaving over 70,000 people in need of urgent assistance and aid. Facing these
challenging and devastating conditions, it is essential that our team are
equipped with everything that they need to provide the vital aid and support to
communities. We use Makita tools for a number of tasks with the immediate focus
on clearing and enabling access for aid supplies.
“It is important for
the team to use tools that are not only easy to handle and transport, but also
reliable. Makita’s 50cc and 79cc chainsaws provide the high performance needed
to complete our work quickly and safely.”
Mark Earles, Business
Development Manager OPE at Makita said: “Makita is incredibly proud to be able
to support charities such as DART International UK. Using Makita tools, the
team from DART International UK are able to attend disaster-struck areas such
as the Bahamas and provide them with vital aid and assistance and help to
re-build the affected communities.”
