ACC Has Not Forgotten Katrina
September 19, 2007

Since May 2006, ACC has worked with FEMA to help repair the damage of Hurricane Katrina. The enormity of the project makes ACC an integral part of the effort to preserve a humane quality of life for the victims of disaster.

Late August 2005 witnessed the ravaging of Louisiana, particularly the historic city of New Orleans, when Hurricane Katrina ripped through the area. The entire nation watched as thousands were stranded or killed in the ensuing floods. Records would later confirm that Hurricane Katrina was the third largest hurricane ever to make landfall on United States soil. This disaster produced billions of dollars in damage and tens of thousands of refugee families who sought shelter after having their homes devastated beyond repair.

Although the government's response to the disaster has been debated and criticized considerably, it did involve providing housing trailers to some of the refugees. These houses, dubbed FEMA Travel Trailers by the government, serve as a temporary dwelling between the immediate provision of tents after a disaster and the point at which a person's house is once again habitable. Due to the extensive damage of Katrina, FEMA Travel Trailers are still a common sight around the state of Louisiana and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has contracted ACC to maintain many of them.

The contract is a vast one, covering approximately 45,000 square miles of the state. It was awarded in May 2006 and was just recently renewed for its first option year. Since the awarding of this contract, the DHS has recognized ACC as one of the top 75 national contractors. In keeping with this recognition, ACC provides 24/7 maintenance support to 57 of the 65 parishes in Louisiana. There are currently 45 employees dedicated to these maintenance calls, along with monthly preventative maintenance check-ups and special tasks assigned by FEMA. ACC is also responsible for hauling, installing, and deactivating the trailer units, all of which involve electrical and plumbing work. ACC's Louisiana work force is responsible for approximately 3,900 units that all require thorough attention and maintenance.

"I don't think people realize how big the FEMA project is," explained Business Developer Amy Lane, "We actually cover most of Louisiana." As Lane expresses, ACC's project in FEMA is certainly expansive. The nature of the work also makes the project a formidable one, since ACC upholds maintaining a good standard of living as one of its main principles. Regarding the victims of Hurricane Katrina's devastation, this philosophy does not change. At FEMA, ACC is dedicated to the task of providing a meaningful quality of life to those who have lost everything.

Nicole Agbayani