The burial ground was closed after Saturday night’s brush with tropical storm Earl.
The wind and rain storm took down about 50 of the 60 trees in the graveyard. Estimates by staff put the number of headstones moved at about two dozen, with about a half-dozen needing replacement.
The area was closed to burials until Tuesday and the public is still not allowed in.
A security firm has been retained to ensure people who want to visit are told the reasons why they can’t at the moment.
Art Dawe, chair of the cemetery committee, said that situation will change when the hazards in the area have been removed.
There are trees that are still down in the area and more trees likely need to be cut because they are now unstable.
“Even some of the trees that look healthy now may have to go,” Dawe said. “Where it’s wide open now the next wind that comes along might be the last.”
Even some of the trees that look healthy now may have to go. - Art Dawe, chair of the cemetery committee
He expects the cleanup effort to be finished in the next couple of days and, when it’s confirmed that it’s safe, the public will be allowed in.
“People have to understand you can’t go up there, as much as they might want to,” he said. “We’ve got 14,000 loved ones there and once you open it up to one, you’ve got no choice but to open it up to everybody.”
There is no plan in place to dispose of the wood at this point.
Some of the branches will be chipped, but within a couple of weeks he expects to know where the trees will be used.
cwells@thewesternstar.com
