ASCE Responds to Gulf Coast Hurricane Devastation
While federal, state and local governments are actively managing assistance to affected communities and mobilizing resources to support response and recovery, we salute the efforts of ASCE members, sections and branches to aid victims and provide materials and relief.
The current amount raised for the Hurricane Relief Fund is $66,103.63. They largely consist of small amounts for gift cards for office supplies for civil engineers in the impacted areas, gifts to students for textbooks and other educational expenses and operation of a business center with phones and computers (provided by ASCE) for displaced civil engineers in New Orleans.
ASCE provided Clint McDowell, P.E., owner of SITE Engineering, a South Louisiana geo-technical and testing firm, with a computer. The firm lost its office and all office equipment and supplies due to floodwaters. In addition, the Louisiana Section assisted Clint with a gift certificate at Office Depot to buy needed supplies to resume business.
Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) Student Chapter presented a relief fund check from the ASCE Hurricane Response Fund of $500 to student member Toni Francis of Florida Institute of Technology. Toni is an outstanding ASCE student member who had transferred to the University of New Orleans and had to return to FIT when Hurricane Katrina destroyed her apartment and possessions. The FIT Civil Engineering program waived her fall semester fees.
The Louisiana Section Board approved a proposal to spend approximately $48,000 over two years to support fellowships for civil engineers at four universities impacted by the hurricane.
ASCE Oregon Section partners with American Water Works Association Portland Subsection to donate $4,000 toward hurricane relief.
ASCE is donating $50,000 toward developing and administering Hurricane Katrina assessment teams to deploy to the disaster area.
ASCE's Committee on Younger Members is directly coordinating efforts with the Branches of the Louisiana Section. Contributions will be sent directly to the Louisiana Branch members so that they may purchase and deliver materials to the shelters.
Florida Section has donated $10,000 to the American Red Cross.
Florida Section East Central Branch Water Resource Technical Committee donated $3,000 to the American Red Cross and $2,000 to local branches along the Gulf Coast to help with the purchase of supplies for victims. The committee is also working on researching available positions for displaced civil engineers and other public personnel in the State of Florida and various other locations throughout the United States.
The Younger Members of Florida East Central sent $1,200 to the Red Cross.
Mississippi Section is hosting 13 of its members from the coast.
Student Chapters at Georgia Tech and the University of Alabama are undertaking relief projects and raising donations.
The Younger Members of Louisville raised and donated over $1,300 for relief efforts to the Louisiana-Younger Member Branch. The donation will be used to purchase and deliver needed supplies to area shelters.
The Younger Members of Las Vegas have generated $1,300 for use in the hurricane relief effort. Their donation has been made to the ASCE Louisiana Section.
The Younger Members of Philadelphia held a fundraiser that generated $110 which they have donated to help relief efforts for Katrina victims.
The Younger Members of Lehigh Valley have raised $200 towards hurricane relief.
International Support
ASCE President Bill Henry has received expressions and letters of support and condolence from civil engineering organizations around the world, including the:
- Japan Society of Civil Engineers
- The International Cotton Association Limited
- Institution of Civil Engineers, United Kingdom
- Order of Engineers of Portugal
- Former Minister of Construction and Housing of Iraq
- Chinese Institute of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering
- ASCE, Phillipines International Group
- ASCE, Thailand
- The Canadian Society for Civil Engineering
