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In the days and weeks following the initial devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, Mid-Atlantic contractors mobilized to help aid in recovery of the Gulf Coast region. From federal contractors to good Samaritans, local firms are playing key roles in stabilizing and rebuilding the areas affected by one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history.
Fairfax, Va.-based Dewberry and the Washington, D.C.-area offices of URS Corp. are among the firms handling critical response contracts for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
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Rico Johnson of Brothers Concrete Construction helps load water into trucks headed to the Gulf Coast to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina. The drive was organized by chapters of Associated Builders and Contractors from Metro Washington and Virginia.
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Dewberry has been handling technical assistance contracts for FEMA since 1984, but Larry Olinger, executive vice president at Dewberry, said a disaster of this magnitude has required a high level of coordination.
"When a big disaster like this hits, you need to supplement the existing disaster team with additional managers and staff," Olinger said. "There's been a lot of effort on our part to organize and coordinate with all of the needs of our contracts."
Dewberry and URS are partners in a technical assistance contract to support FEMA in Louisiana in assisting municipalities as they repair public infrastructure. The firms are also partners in a housing inspection contract. A new FEMA management assistance contract was recently added to Dewberry's existing contract to support FEMA's disaster management operations in Washington, D.C., and Baton Rouge, La.
URS, with Dewberry as a subcontractor, is leading a hazard mitigation contract to assist municipalities with approaches to mitigate future disaster damages.
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Chapters of Associated Builders and Contractors from Metro Washington and Virginia were among the associations that sent supplies to the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina hit the region. Pictured left to right are Kevin Lapanne of Foulger-Pratt Contracting, Juan Venega of P&P Contractors, Roger Rice of DownHome Connections, and Kim Collins and Bob Zinsmeister of Associated Builders and Contractors of Metro Washington.
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Other FEMA contracts involving local firms include the building engineers and technology contract which evaluates how structures perform during disasters. The contract is a partnership between Dewberry, URS, Greenhorne & O'Mara and PBS&J.
Greenhorne & O'Mara are subcontractors on three FEMA contracts involved in Katrina response and the firm estimates that up to 10 percent of its 650 employees will be involved in the clean-up efforts.
Olinger said that Dewberry has established a Baton Rouge office to spearhead Katrina efforts, but it is also considering beefing up its Fairfax office staff to help handle the response.
Tetra Tech, which has multiple offices around the Washington metro area, is also responding via its Superfund Technical Assessment & Response Team contract with the Environmental Protection Agency. Several responders from Tetra Tech's Mid-Atlantic offices are among the more than 80 company employees sent to handle the contract.
"We've mobilized a lot of people from the area to help in the effort," said Mark Johnson, senior vice president of Tetra Tech.
More federal contracts and opportunities are expected to open up as new phases of reconstruction continue through the coming years.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is directing contractors interested in assisting in the recovery to sign up with Phillips & Jordan and AshBritt Environmental. Firms interested in providing services can also sign up with FEMA on its website.
Katrina has sparked generous levels of donations from the design and construction community. National associations based around the Washington area have taken lead roles in funneling member funds to Katrina victims. Associations contributing to the effort include Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated General Contractors, American Institute of Architects, National Society of Professional Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Society of Marketing Professional Services.
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Tetra Tech is one of several contractors sending Mid-Atlantic-based personnel to work in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. A Tetra Tech contractor, pictured here, tests water in New Orleans as part of the company's contract with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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In addition to national efforts, many local association chapters have launched their own efforts. ABC - Metro Washington and ABC - Virginia sent three truck loads of supplies to its Jackson, Ms., office for donation.
Individual firms are also contributing heavily to the cause. Clark Construction of Bethesda, Md., committed $1 million to the relief effort. Centex Corporation of Fairfax, Va., donated $100,000 to The American Red Cross and collected supplies from employees. SmithGroup of Washington, D.C., gave temporary employment to architects from New Orleans and has set a goal to donate $100,000 to the Red Cross.
KBS of Richmond, Va., set a goal to raise $25,000 in employee donations. Harkins Builders of Marriottsville, Md., raised $18,000 for Catholic Charities USA for Katrina relief.
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