Inside AGC — November/December 2005

Chapter Corner: Putting the Pieces Together

AGC Chapters are helping members and communities revuild after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Hurricane Katrina left widespread damage across much of the Gulf Coast and touched AGC members from coast to coast, only to be followed by Hurricane Rita, which hit the southwest portion of Louisiana and the Texas coast.

Members of many AGC chapters were on the front lines of rescue and recovery efforts, including Louisiana AGC, Alabama AGC, AGC of Mississippi and Mississippi Valley Branch-AGC, AGC of Jefferson County (Texas) and Houston Chapter-AGC.

The Devastation

The Mississippi Gulf Coast sustained major infrastructure damage and will have to be totally rebuilt.
The coastal regions of Alabama were again hit, with 20% of the damage inflicted from Hurricane Ivan still unrepaired. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused extra stress on the Alabama construction industry, in an area that was already under-staffed and lacking in materials.

Despite their own needs, AGC of Alabama worked closely with federal agencies to provide information to members about obtaining licensing credentials in surrounding states to help in the recovery process where they were needed.

In Louisiana, many of the members in the southeast and southwest parts of the state were devastated by the storms, but maintained operations so they could assist in moving the state forward. These areas are now hard at work putting the pieces back together and looking for an opportunity to rebuild the region.

The Rescue and The Aftermath

There were urgent pleas for rescue after the levee breaches. "After the first storm hit, our immediate concern was saving people," said Derrell Cohoon, chief executive officer of Louisiana AGC.

Some AGC members even put themselves in harm's way because there was a job to do. Tony Zelenka, an AGC contractor and president of Mississippi Valley Branch-AGC walked through chest-deep water, then biked to a car and drove four hours to reach the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers emergency response center because he knew his company, Bertucci Contracting Corp., would be able to aid in the rebuilding of the levees in New Orleans.

"Our members were first responders, helping to the repair the breached levees, mobilizing employees and equipment," said Freddie Rush, executive vice president, Mississippi Valley Branch-AGC. "The USACE needed rock and sandbags to plug the breaks in the levees, and we were able to supply it for them."

The Rebuilding

As the rebuilding process began, AGC's chapters were again proving to be a critical link. Nearly one million Louisiana residents were displaced by the storms, and many skilled craftsworkers were scattered from Baton Rouge to Atlanta to Utah, and all parts in between. This only added to the enormous challenge of finding and retaining employees for the rebuilding phase.

Louisiana AGC moved quickly to provide members with information on temporary housing and office space outside the disaster areas, state licensing, required inoculations for workers in many disaster areas, contractor liability and worker safety issues, and working with local emergency agencies during the rescue and recovery efforts.

Chapters assisted in other ways, by shipping essential goods throughout the region. AGC of Mississippi shipped food, cases of construction materials, work gloves, safety vests, goggles and other needed supplies to member and non-member contractors alike.

"Whether they are AGC members or not, we felt the people working to rebuild needed safety equipment," said Perry Nations, executive director of AGC of Mississippi.

AGC of Mississippi also worked with FEMA, the DOL and other construction industry liaison groups to create a one-week training program that would train highly needed craft workers to clean-up and rebuild projects along the coast.

Although the hurricanes have passed, the rebuilding will continue for years to come and the impact of the storms will have long-term implications for millions of Americans. AGC chapters and members stand ready to rebuild the Gulf Coast region.