Bakersfield, Calif.-based Rain for Rent has been providing emergency response services to the saturated cities and towns along the fractured Mississippi River since late May. The emergency response situation created by the recent 500-year rain event required immediate action from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Guard, and other local, state and federal agencies.
USACE called on Rain for Rent, a nationwide liquid-handling solutions company established in 1934, to help them combat the rising waters that threatened homes, farmland, businesses and public service infrastructures. Within a matter of hours, Rain for Rent’s St. Louis branch delivered numerous 4-inch, 6-inch, and 8-inch Power Prime pumps, hose, fittings and filtration equipment to the Quincy, Ill., National Guard Depot. Dave Veizer, Rain for Rent St. Louis branch manager, remained on-site at the guard’s depot throughout the equipment delivery.
Mark Bybee, Rain for Rent St. Louis sales representative, coordinated a pump system in Quincy to protect the city’s water treatment plant. The Rain for Rent St. Louis team worked around the clock to install and activate a turnkey pumping system.
The National Guard sent in sheet pilings to keep the floodwaters from the water treatment plant, while Rain for Rent pumped from behind the temporary wall to save the plant’s fresh water from contamination. Rain for Rent’s emergency response, turnkey pumping solution included site preparation to protect both existing and reinforced portions of the levee; provision of all crane, heavy equipment, lighting, and fuel services; and a 24/7 operations, pump watch and maintenance team to remain on site for the duration of the project.
Veizer, Bybee, and many other Rain for Rent employees, worked with 1,500 National Guard Troops and countless volunteers to provide emergency flood relief throughout Quincy and its neighboring towns.
In addition, at the request of the USACE, the Rain for Rent Chicago branch provided a turnkey pumping system consisting of large-diameter axial-flow pumps at the Saylor Ville, Iowa dam. The equipment and personnel were mobilized and the system was up and running within 48 hours.
The Chicago team also responded to numerous other requests for pumps from commercial facilities, including Davenport and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
