The Stadtservice's work continues during gale-force winds
16.02.2022 – On stormy fall and winter days, office workers can retreat behind their desk at work or to their home office with a cup of tea. However, the colleagues at Stadtwerke Offenbach's Stadtservice department zipper up their work jackets a little higher and almost always carry out their duties outdoors anyway: they empty the garbage cans even in gale-force winds, maintain the green spaces and areas in the cemeteries - or check trees.
The refuse collectors have no chance to retreat to a sheltered spot to do their work: The garbage cans on their daily rounds have to be emptied. Every now and then, however, citizens complain afterwards that their empty garbage cans or waste containers are lying on the side of the road and being rolled back and forth by the wind. The customer service team has had to explain several times afterwards that it was not the refuse collection staff but the strong wind that was responsible.
Cemeteries closed during storms
The cemeteries are closed during storms so that visitors to the park-like grounds are not hit by branches. The cemetery gardeners sometimes deviate from their daily schedule in strong winds and look for work areas that are not close to trees. The day after the storm, the trees are first checked for hanging broken branches before the grounds are reopened to the public. Funerals can also be canceled if there is a danger for the mourners and therefore also for the cemetery team when walking to the grave. However, in consultation with the relatives, the funeral service can usually take place - especially if there are no trees on the path from the cemetery gate to the entrance door of the hall.
Tree crew removes damage
Trees always pose a particular danger during storms, not only in the forest but also in the city. It is true that inner-city trees are checked every nine months on behalf of Stadtwerke Offenbach. Nevertheless, even healthy-looking branches can break, especially after the two extremely dry summers in 2019 and 2020. If these block a cycle path or if a half-broken branch threatens to fall down completely, the tree crew or colleagues from Green Services must remove the hazard even if the storm is still raging. Only if employees would put themselves in danger by removing a hanging branch will the area around the break be cordoned off until the weather has calmed down.
The municipal utility company's tree crew is always working hard in the wind, as they are regularly out and about in the treetops removing dead wood and branches that are at risk of breaking. However, the employees are so well trained that they know themselves when to stop working in the tree - for example, if it is moving too much in the wind. The city gardeners also go to their normal areas in strong winds. During storms, they keep an eye on the trees and bushes to see if they could pose a danger. In gale-force gusts, however, they have to rely on their common sense and retreat to their vehicle if necessary.
Street cleaning remains in operation
Street cleaning also remains in operation. Although it can happen that new leaves fall to the ground behind the sweeper or broom in the fall, at least the coffee cups, used handkerchiefs and breathing masks already lying there are removed and not swirled into the faces of passers-by.
Autumn and winter storms are not quite as dangerous near trees as violent gusts in the summer months. Trees without leaves offer significantly less air resistance than a fully leafy crown: the wind can race through the almost bare branches without bending them. However, as cold rain and dull light usually accompany an autumn or winter storm, it is perceived as particularly unpleasant.
February 16, 2022