Hurricane Aftermath

Sept. 1, 2005
MHEDA has donated $1,000 to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief. Other material handling associations are doing similar things and we'll keep

MHEDA has donated $1,000 to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief. Other material handling associations are doing similar things and we'll keep you posted.

The Warehousing Education Research Council (WERC) is working with America's Second Harvest, the parent organization of the nation's food banks, to coordinate donations of material handling equipment to be used in the Gulf Coast relief effort. Temporary locations have been set up in Baton Rouge, La., and Montgomery, Al., and material handling equipment is needed to run these operations until the permanent locations can be put back on line. Requested equipment includes:

  • 15-20 standard lift trucks, 2,000-pound minimum lift, inside tires;
  • 15-20 power lift pallet jacks;
  • 15-20 hand jacks to use on straight trucks for delivery to local pantries;
  • 15-20 18- to 24-foot straight trucks with lift gates to do local deliveries.

Visit www.secondharvest.org for more information, or contact WERC Executive Director Bob Shaunnessey at 630-990-0001 or [email protected] if you are interested in donating equipment.
MHEDA Members were quick to heed the WERC call to arms. Gary Conger, president, Conger Industries (Green Bay, Wis.), donated 20 pallet jacks to the cause, and Rod Jack, president, Storage Solutions (Knoxville, Tenn.), contributed two more. Enersys Marketing Manager Steve Spaar will supply batteries to any donated forklifts. Chris Cooney at Mitsubishi also contributed various types of equipment.

Association members are contributing in other ways as well. Cheryl Graham of Fairview Insurance Agency (Verona, N.J.) says, "Any members are welcome to call us about any questions or concerns about their insurance needs, regardless if they are our clients or not. I also have a database of all insurance company phone numbers if needed." Visit www.fairviewinsurance.com for more information.

The Materia Handling Industry of America (MHIA, Charlotte, N.C.) has also made a donation to the Red Cross on behalf of its members. At its Web Site, www.mhia.org, is a long list of places to go for information and ways to contribute to the disaster relief efforts on the Gulf Coast.
To help transporters stay current on the latest developments in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, J. J. Keller (Neenah, Wis.) supplier of safety and regulatory compliance solutions for transportation, manufacturing, construction, human resources, security and general industry, has created the Hurricane Relief Information Center. Along with the $10,000 it has pledged for relief, the Center is designed to provide transportation companies and others with easy access to vital information, including: state DOT Executive Orders, emergency agencies, permitting information, key contacts and more. Visit www.jjkeller.com for more information.

ASSE Offers Disaster Safety Checklist

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE, Des Plaines, Il.) has offered a business disaster safety checklist that can serve as a safety and health aid to help ensure you are considering many of the things that need to be reviewed and verified, for the safety of you and your employees, before resumption of business. Contact it at www.asse.org.

Much of this report was edited from information in the electronic newsletter of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA), MHEDA Connection, prepared by Data Key Communication LLC.

Report compiled by Clyde Witt.