Copart CAT response teams deployed into the areas ravaged by Hurricane Helene to help in recovery efforts by retrieving and processing destroyed vehicles on behalf of insurance companies.
When Did Copart Begin Responding?
Before the storm hit, we began staging equipment, fleet assets and personnel with the required expertise to Copart locations designed to respond to such natural disasters in Tallahassee, Ocala, Tampa, Atlanta and Okeechobee. Crews are currently working in Florida, Georgia, North & South Carolina and Tennessee.
What Do These CAT Teams Do?
Team members have previously removed vehicles declared as total losses from places including homes, businesses and even trees. These vehicles are then transported to Copart storage facilities where the contents are inventoried, the vehicles are inspected, and many undergo treatment to remove water and prevent mold.
This allows insurance companies to process and close claims faster so people can get the resources they need to start rebuilding. Insurance companies then sell the vehicles through Copart to be recycled or otherwise repurposed.
Who Serves on the CAT Response Teams?
CAT team members all work in different jobs at Copart, but have the skills needed to recover, load, transport and process vehicles. They volunteer to use those skills to help others when the need arises.
Many CAT team members volunteer to go into dangerous places far away from home, family and friends, often for weeks at a time. They work long hours doing difficult labor. Fortunately, part of our CAT response is a team that makes sure volunteers needs for food, water and sleep stay met.
Along with specially trained tow truck drivers, loaders, and vehicle processors, we also have people from corporate offices and administrative positions that bolster the ranks of the CAT teams when additional manpower is required.
As a company, we are very proud of the work our people do to help restore communities after tragedy strikes.
Always Ready for the Next Storm
As of this writing, Hurricane Milton has strengthened into a category 5 storm. We’re closing several locations and evacuating our CAT teams and other staff from the portion of Florida in the storm’s path.
But even now, our CAT team members are planning and preparing to return as soon as the storm passes to continue their work to help communities recover.
