Crews travel from Michigan to help trim trees ahead of storm

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — Tree trimming crews traveled to Catawba County from Michigan to help protect power lines through the incoming winter weather.

An ice storm warning has been issued for the Charlotte area, and crews are preparing to respond.

The team from Detroit told Channel 9’s Dave Faherty that they hope to restore power to any homes that lose it as soon as possible.

Davey Tree Trimming was working from a Walmart parking lot Friday morning. Workers told Faherty that they arrived last night after a 10-hour drive from Michigan to help crews across the Carolinas.

They know the area well. They spent time in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.

“Feels great to be down here doing our part,” said Troy Keteyian, worker. “We arrived here last year for Hurricane Helene. Hopefully, we don’t get hit too hard but if we do we’re here to help everybody.”

“We clear all the trees off the powerlines,” said Trevor Whitman, worker. “Anything to get out of the lineman’s way, so they can do their job and restore power.”

In Caldwell County, Blueridge Energy Crews put chains on all their trucks in Lenoir Friday afternoon. They are prepared to work 16-hour shifts and make sure they can get there.

“We hope it’s not as bad as they say it is,” said Gavin Reed, Blue Ridge Energy. “We’re trying to prepare for the worse. It’s better to over prepare than under prepare.”

In Burke County, people were out early filling up propane tanks.

Workers said there have been lines at Espey Hardware for the last two days.

“Crazy busy,” said Rodney Wood, Espey Hardware. “They were lined up halfway down the street yesterday.”

Generators and gas cans were also big sellers. Pallets of those containers sold out at The Home Depot in less than 30 minutes Friday morning.

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