It didn’t take long for the record-breaking August floods in the Capital Region to escalate into a tragedy of epic proportions, leaving thousands homeless and in need of immediate assistance.
And as 10/12 Industry Report details in a feature in the new quarterly issue, while the area’s industrial facilities were mostly spared from the rising waters, thousands of workers from a five-parish area weren’t so fortunate. On average, the flood directly impacted an estimated 20% of permanent, full-time employees of area plants.
Dan Borné, former president of the Louisiana Chemical Association, estimates about two-thirds of the state’s chemical manufacturing employees live or work in the parishes affected by the flooding.
“While we don’t have plant facilities in Livingston Parish, which was really hit hard, it’s a bedroom community for many or our employees and for lots of members of LCA,” he says.
The major challenge for plant owners in the flood’s immediate aftermath was assisting employees and helping them return to work—because the plants continued to run—and to help them rebuild their homes and restore their lives.
Bob Johnston, ExxonMobil Chemical site manager, says the company’s Baton Rouge area plants had an astounding 500 employees directly impacted by the flood.
While many employees were already involved in various stages of search-and-rescue as members of the Cajun Navy, one of ExxonMobil’s first official actions was to contract a company called Red Hawk of Baton Rouge to mobilize up to 65 three- to five-person crews to tear out sheet rock, clean out debris and remove furniture and cabinets from employee homes.
BASF in Geismar quickly mobilized a task force to determine needs, and locate and acquire necessary housing, transportation and supplies for its impacted employees. “We actually did not have a specific plan for an event like this,” says Tom Yura, senior vice president and general manager of BASF in Geismar. “When a crisis like this occurs, you don’t typically have days to sit back and contemplate next steps. You’ve got to move fast.”
Read the full feature, and see below for more stories on Louisiana’s industry sector in the full edition of 10/12 Industry Report, which is published quarterly. Sign up for a free subscription. Send your feedback, story ideas and company news to editor@1012industryreport.com.
