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Feature Wrath and Recovery <strong>Operating</strong> <strong>Engineers</strong> Lead Efforts to Restore Communities Hit by Superstorm Three months after Superstorm Sandy slammed into the Northeastern United States, many coastal communities in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut are still without power, water or natural gas. The magnitude <strong>of</strong> the storm is stunning – over 150 lives lost, over $60 billion in damage, and thousands still unable to return to their homes. The National Hurricane Center now says tropical force winds extended 820 miles at their widest. Sandy’s pure kinetic energy for storm surge and wave “destruction potential” reached a 5.8 on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 0 to 6 scale, the highest ever measured. <strong>Operating</strong> <strong>Engineers</strong> have also been picking up the pieces, both personally and pr<strong>of</strong>essionally. “While all <strong>of</strong> us were touched in some way by the storm and its aftermath, about 50 <strong>of</strong> our members suffered devastating damage to their homes as a result <strong>of</strong> flooding, wind and fallen trees. Many <strong>of</strong> these brothers and sisters are still assessing the impact and deciding whether to rebuild or move on,” says Local 825 Business Manager and <strong>International</strong> Vice President Greg Lalevee. Despite their personal hardship, <strong>IUOE</strong> members from hard hit areas and beyond answered the call. Within hours <strong>of</strong> the storm’s passing, heavy equipment operators took the lead, digging through deep sand and debris, so that rescue workers and utility crews could reach residents and communities stricken by the storm. The work has transitioned now, from emergency response to recovery, but the need for skilled <strong>Operating</strong> <strong>Engineers</strong> has only grown. Millions <strong>of</strong> tons <strong>of</strong> debris must still be cleared and crews are busy fortifying sand dunes and replenishing beaches to protect coastal communities from future weather events. Members Helping Members <strong>Operating</strong> <strong>Engineers</strong> were also quick to respond to their brothers and sisters in need. The <strong>IUOE</strong> National Charity Fund received close to $500,000 in donations from locals and individual members in the weeks immediately after the storm. To date, the Fund has paid out more than $1.5 million to more than 500 <strong>IUOE</strong> members who suffered storm related damages. “It was heartening to see Local 30’s tradition <strong>of</strong> members helping members continue, and as always, our great <strong>International</strong> was there immediately to help,” said Local 30 Business Manager and <strong>International</strong> Trustee Jack Ahern. The first <strong>of</strong> the National Charity Fund checks for Local 30 members were handed out by Mr. Ahern in early November, and since then Local 30 members have received 67 checks from the Fund. Mr. Ahern expressed his heartfelt thanks to General President Callahan and the <strong>IUOE</strong> General Executive Board for their quick response and unwavering support in the face <strong>of</strong> this natural disaster. Federal Relief Package Finally Approved On January 28, a staggering 91 days after Superstorm Sandy struck, the Senate passed, on a vote <strong>of</strong> 62-36, federal [left] A familiar scene throughout the storm ravaged region. <strong>Operating</strong> engineers have been working steadily to remove storm debris since late October. [photo] AP/Kathy Willens [right] Flood waters surged through lower Manhattan, inundating the World Trade Center construction site. [photo] AP/John Minchillo WINTER 2013 17