NEW YORK — In response to the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, several manufacturers of construction equipment responded by donating money and providing equipment to help in the search and rescue efforts.
The Michelin Group contributed $1 million to assist the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The company is also donating round-the-clock, on-site service and up to $250,000 in tires for emergency vehicles of all types involved in the “ground zero” recovery efforts on-going in lower Manhattan.
“It is simply the right thing to do, said MNA chairman and president Jim Micali. “Michelin North America is committed to providing the emergency crews working in the Manhattan crisis area the full resources and expertise of our company.”
The “Michelin Relief Fund” has been opened to all 128,000 Michelin employees worldwide who wish to make donations.
Target Products, Olathe, Kan., donated more than $50,000 worth of equipment and supplies to the rescue efforts including cut-off saws, chain saws, bars, chains and blades.
Holdrege, Neb.-based Allmand Bros. has also taken steps to contribute to the disaster relief effort. “Allmand light towers are currently assisting the recovery efforts in New York and our nation's capital,” said Jerry Greenquist, vice-president of sales and marketing for the company. “In response to this tragedy, Allmand Bros. redirected light towers intended for other locations throughout the U.S. in order to ship them to these areas of need.”
Company managers and employees of John Deere are working with the New York City Emergency Services Bureau, the New York Port Authority and the New York Parks Department to provide needed equipment such as utility vehicles, concrete saws, generators and skid steer loaders. The company has also offered utility vehicles to be used in the relief effort at the Pentagon.
Scheffel Equipment, Somerset, Pa., a John Deere dealership located just five miles away from the site where the fourth hijacked plane crashed, has supplied rescue workers with utility tractors and utility vehicles. In addition, Deere's Construction & Forestry Division is prepared to send loaders, excavators and other necessary equipment to the disaster sites as soon as the federal agencies in charge determine their exact needs. Some 30 TRAMS (tractor rubber-wheeled articulating multipurpose vehicle), produced at the Davenport Works for the U.S. Marine Corps, were sent to New York City from Camp LeJeune, N.C.
“Our sympathies go out to all those affected by this tragic situation,” said Curtis Linke, vice president of corporate communications. “Our thoughts and personal support are with all those working to provide comfort and a sense of direction during this difficult time.”
Mike Joseph, sales manager for Magnum Products, Berlin, Wis., says the company is working in a team effort with the United Rentals rental location in Flushing, N.Y., and the corporate office in Greenwich, Conn., to provide much needed equipment. United Rentals immediately dispatched a number of units into the city, and four truckloads of light towers from Magnum were delivered two days after the attack by Milwaukee, Wis.-based LandStar Inway, which has ensured that a number of trucks are available 24/7.
Communication regarding the equipment needed is filtered through Ed Heinz, manager and Anthony Durante, sales manager at the Flushing location. They are working to maintain the open line of communication, Joseph says. A UR employee is also stationed at the New York police headquarters to relay any pertinent information or requests for more equipment.
“It has been a team effort to make this all happen so quickly,” Joseph said. “If they need 100 lights, we'll get them 100 lights. We'll do whatever we can.”