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The Wake of the Hurricane
Dire Situations
Caused by Hurricane Katrina Bring Out the Best in the Industry
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the bad news still
abounds. A report by the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB)
states that 200,000 homes in New Orleans may be permanently
uninhabitable due to prolonged immersion in flood water. Economists for
the NAHB and Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) predict
rising prices and short supply for building materials, including steel,
concrete, plywood, and OSB, at a time when these materials are needed
most. And while electricity and phone service has been restored to
areas
where the infrastructure for those services was left mostly intact,
many
residents of the storm-ravaged area are still without light, A/C, or
any
means of communication. However, it's with pride that EC&M
reports on the compassionate efforts of the staffing firms,
distributors, manufacturers, associations, and utilities who have given
generously to the relief and restoration efforts. Our thoughts are with
the nearly 5,000 readers from Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana who
may have been affected by this natural disaster.
Transmission & Distribution
World Editor-in-Chief Blogs from Hurricane-Affected Areas
Transmission & Distrubution World's
Editor-in-Chief Rick Bush travels down south to report on recovery
efforts. First-hand accounts and images of the electrical restoration
efforts are available through the magazine's Web site.
ADVERTISEMENT
 Simple. Reliable. Accurate.
AEMC's Clamp-On Ground Resistance Tester Model 3731 provides direct
reading of ground rod and grid resistance from 0.01 ohms to 1200 ohms.
Operation is simple and fast; there is no need for leads, auxiliary
rods, or disconnecting the service under test. It measures leakage
current flowing to ground or circulating in ground loops from 1mA to
30Arms. The large jaw (1.25") accommodates ground conductors up to
1000
MCM. The model 3731 includes both an alarm function and a memory
function, which will store up to 99 field measurements. For more
information visit www.aemc.com.
Manpower Support
MEPatWORK.com Offers
Free Online Job Posting
In response to the demand from industry contractors and
other related service providers that will need skilled HVAC,
electrical,
and plumbing trades people for the reconstruction effort, the Industry
People Group (IPG) has opened its online job board. For employers
seeking mechanical, electrical, and plumbing candidates, contact the
board at (888) 482-2562. For anyone seeking work in those fields, you
may post your resume on the Web site, fax your
resume to (515) 278-6025, or mail it to Industry People Group, 6200
Aurora Ave., Ste. 405E, Des Moines, IA 50322.
SullivanKreiss Assists
in Job Searches
Northborough, Mass.-based SullivanKreiss, Inc. is
offering its placement services to professionals in the design and
construction industry affected by Hurricane Katrina. Architects,
engineers, landscape architects, and construction professionals in need
of employment may call the firm at (508) 393-4933 or email info@sullivankreiss.com.
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New Ground Resistance Clamp Meter saves time and effort
You'll never have to disconnect the ground again with the new Ground
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rods
or cables as large as 1.25 inches and checks the ground resistance and
leakage safely and easily. Plus there is no need for leads, auxiliary
rods or spacing requirements. Visit www.idealindustries.com
for more information on the new Ground Resistance Clamp Meter from
IDEAL.
Distributor Support
Electrical Distributors Assess
Damage, Begin Recovery Operations
According to a report on the Electrical
Wholesaling Web
site,
several electrical distributors, manufacturers, and independent
manufacturers' reps continue to assess the damage caused by Hurricane
Katrina. Relief efforts continue despite flooding and security and
communications concerns.
W.W. Grainger Pledges
Donations
Lake Forest, Ill.-based W.W. Grainger has pledged more
than $1 million in cash and emergency supplies, including tarps, glove,
flashlights, and batteries to the Red Cross's Disaster Relief Fund to
help the recovery efforts. The company is also matching employee
donations by four to one.
Hughes Supply Inc. Sends
Donations
To the relief effort, Orlando's Hughes Supply, Inc. has
pledged $70,000 in supplies, which will be delivered in Hughes trucks.
In addition, the company is collecting emergency supplies at its
headquarters on Church Street in the Parramore neighborhood in Orlando
to send to its coworkers in the disaster area.
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feature single- or dual-sided multi-tap configurations in addition to
in-line or offset splicer-reducer connectors. A new, mountable version
for use in troughs, wire ways, or panels has recently been introduced.
Dual- rated for copper or aluminum conductor, the offering is UL Listed
and features removable plugs for entry port closure. Visit our Web site
at www.ilsco.com for additional
product information.
Manufacturer Support
Manufacturers Donate Products,
Personnel to Recovery Efforts
The following list is a sampling of the generous
efforts
of manufacturers to provide supplies to the Hurricane Katrina relief
efforts.ABB America's Task Force team has sent parts,
products, and personnel into the Gulf Coast region to aid in recovery
efforts from transmission and distribution of power to commercial and
industrial electrical automation control. In addition, ABB established
a
toll-free number for customers dealing with damage caused by the storm.
ABB customers may call (877) 511-4222 for
assistance.Pittsburgh-based Eaton Corp. has put together
a
team to assist customers affected by the hurricane. Customers may call
its support services number at (800) 356-1243 and select either option
5
to be directed to the response team or option 9 for after-hours
emergency support. The team may also be reached by e-mail at avcncemergresp@eaton.com.Teams
from GE's Lighting, Electrical Distribution, and Motors
departments have established a customer support team to coordinate
customer communication, extend payment terms for distributors in
FEMA-declared disaster areas, and release damaged equipment safety
warnings. In addition, employees at the GE Consumer & Industrial
Appliances plant in Decatur, Ala., are working overtime to produce
35,000 16-cubic-foot refrigerators ordered by FEMA for its onsite
trailers. GE will also be providing medical devices, power generation
equipment, and water purification systems.Pullman, Wash.-based
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.(SEL) is providing
discounts of 30% to 50% to customers affected by Hurricane Katrina. The
company also donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross for the relief
effort. For more information on the company's disaster recovery
measures, visit SEL's Web site.
Libertyville, Ill.-based William Frick and Co. has
provided warning, danger, and caution signs, as well as utility pole
numbers and safety markers to the relief effort. Gas, utility, power,
telecommunications, and electrical companies needing signage may call
(847) 918-3700. In addition, the company is supplying "We Will Rebuild"
stickers, available by calling Stephanie at (847)
918-3700Siemens USA companies have provided service and
material support to the hurricane-affected areas. US Filter has
donated five water-clarification trailers, each with a
1,000-gallon/minute capacity. Siemens Building Technologies has
shipped generators from Florida to support hospitals in the area.
Siemens Communications, working with utility Southern Company,
deployed 420 IP phones in emergency crew command trailers using
satellite broadband back to Atlanta. Siemens Power Generation
has
airlifted engineers into the area to assist utilities with damage
assessment and rebuilding efforts. Siemens Energy and Automation
established a program to extend payment terms on exisiting counts
receivable balances and replenishment stock order from distributors for
its channel partners in the area.Palatine, Ill.-based
Schneider North America has pledged $1 million to relief efforts
in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida's Broward and
Miami-Dade
counties.
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contact your local Cat Dealer.
Association Support
NEMRA Requests
Financial Assistance
The National Electrical Manufacturers Representatives
Association (NEMRA) is asking for financial assistance in starting a
fund that will be used to assist NEMRA members affected by Hurricane
Katrina. Through the fund, the association hopes to provide loans to
assist members with their immediate needs and to recover and rebuild
businesses. A section on the association's Web site has been made
available to post messages to and from NEMRA members in the affected
areas. In addition, e-mail addresses and services are available to
NEMRA
members who have lost Internet services.
AGC Establishes
Hurricane Katrina Construction Workers Fund
The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)
recently announced it has established the Hurricane Katrina
Construction
Workers Fund. The association seeks to provide financial assistance to
the construction workers in states affected by the hurricane. AGC will
work with chapters in those states to determine criteria for
eligibility. Contributions may be sent to the AGC Education and
Research
Foundation at the AGC's Web site.
IEEE-USA Funds
Local Volunteer Recovery Efforts
IEEE-USA has released its Professional Activities
Committee project funds to organized groups of U.S. IEEE members in
regions 3 (southeast United States) and 5 (southwestern United States)
who want to support local volunteer recovery efforts. For more
information on how to receive project funds, visit the IEEE Web
site.
NEMA Offers Safety
Advice About Water-Damaged Electrical Equipment
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association
(NEMA)
is warning inhabitants and recovery workers in the hurricane-affected
areas about the dangers of water-damaged electrical equipment. NEMA's
brochure, "Guidelines for Handling Water Damaged Electrical Equipment,"
may be downloaded as a PDF from the organization's Web
site.
AGC Economist
Predicts Higher Prices Due to Hurricane Katrina
Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated
General
Contractors of America (AGC), expects increases in the cost of cement,
steel, copper, gypsum, and other petroleum-based products in the wake
of
the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. According to Simonson, the
prices for these construction commodities have increased in recent
months, but will be pushed even higher due to the hurricane.
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Utility Support
Storm-Affected
Utility Companies Work to Restore Service
For the latest updates on restoration efforts, please
click on the link to the individual utility.Cleco
Corp.
Mississippi
Power
Entergy
Corp.
Coast
Electric Power Association
The Electric
Power Association of Mississippi
Florida
Power & Light Company
Utility Companies Send Crews and
Equipment to Restore Power
The following list is a sampling of the utility
companies who have generously donated expertise, crews, and equipment
in
the interest of restoring electrical power to the hurricane-affected
area.Alliant Energy, in association with its line
contractor Pieper Power, sent 55 crew members working in the
Wisconsin Power and Light (WP&L) service territory to help with
restoration efforts in Louisiana. The 55 crew members comprise the 15
crews WP&L uses for large, overhead utility construction, system
rebuilds, and installation of new commercial and industrial electrical
services. The crews will work on maintenance and restoration service,
as
well as construction projects. WP&L also released 20 contracted
tree-trimming specialists who are now helping restoration efforts in
Mississippi.
More than 60 employees of Baltimore Gas and Electric Company
(BGE), a subsidiary of Constellation Energy, will assist
with
electric service restoration in Baton Rouge, La. BGE and its
contractors
have helped restore service to customers of Florida Power and Light
Co.,
Mississippi Power Co., Cleco Power, and subsidiaries of Entergy
Corp.
Cincinnati-based Cinergy sent 200 employees and contract
personnel to the New Orleans area to assist Entergy in restoration of
electric service. The personnel are from Cincinnati Gas &
Electric, Union Light Heat & Power, and PSI Energy
operating companies. Cinergy anticipates providing restoration service
for six weeks. Because of the amount of the construction, Cinergy's
crews are required to be self-contained, carrying their own tents,
kitchen supplies, fuel, and restoration materials to the area.
Greensburg, Pa.-based Allegheny Energy has mobilized 400
employees and contractors to the hurricane-damaged areas of the United
States.
PPL Electric Utilities has sent 110 employees to help
restore
electricity to the storm-damaged areas of the country. The company's
personnel left Sept. 1 and included linemen, engineers, technicians,
supervisors, and support personnel from eastern and central
Pennsylvania.
The early response team from InfraSource Services, Inc. sent
almost 300 personnel; 100 bucket trucks, pickup trucks, and diggers;
nine trailers; and trade tools to help repair damage caused by
Hurricane
Katrina.
Repair crews from Pepco Holdings, Inc., Atlantic City
Electric, Delmarva Power, and Pepco joined forces
with
utility workers to help Mississippi Power return electrical services to
the state. The crews spent the Labor Day weekend in Meridian, Miss.,
before moving onto greater damaged areas 90 miles south in Hattiesburg,
Miss.
FirstEnergy Corp. sent 131 employees, including 48 line
crews, to the Jackson, Miss., area. They will relieve the 95
FirstEnergy
employees who have been working on restoration efforts since Aug.
25.
Iron Mountain, Mich.-based M.J. Electric sent 151 linemen
with 52 bucket trucks, 19 diggers, nine trailers, 40 pickup trucks, and
various tools to aid in restoration efforts.
Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative released linemen
crews to assist in electrical restoration in the south.
Among the first to see the storm damage around New Orleans, crews
from Dominion Virginia Power helped restore electricity to a
hospital, state trooper headquarters, and the Louis Armstrong New
Orleans International Airport in Kenner, a suburb west of New
Orleans.
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