Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/908212
S ince the AggMan of the Year award was launched in 1999, we have always rec- ognized a single individual for his or her industry leadership each year. When Hurricane Harvey struck the Houston area in late August, how- ever, numerous aggregates profession- als stepped forward to help their com- munity — and rightly so; many hands were needed. Rather than recognize just one person, we've opted to recognize a handful of those who volunteered with rescue and recovery efforts. This year's recipients include Josh Leftwich, regional environmental and business develop- ment manager, Knife River Corp.; Darryn Lindsey, area operations manager, Hanson Aggregates; James Tre' Oquin, central Texas market manager, Alamo Cement; and Rob Van Til, managing partner, River Aggregates, LLC. These gentlemen, and others who came to the aid of their communities during the trio of fall hurricanes, truly represent the industry at its best. Rescue efforts According to The Weather Channel, more than 60 inches of total rainfall was recorded as the result of Hurricane Harvey. In fact, it set a record for the continental United States. As fl ooding began, Oquin talked with his wife and employer about traveling from his San Antonio home into Houston to help with rescue efforts. He towed his airboat to the city outskirts and slept in his truck as his wife contacted local rescue efforts to offer his assistance. The fi rst day, he worked with the Fulshear Police Department evacuating people from the city of Weston Lake. The next day, he met with state troopers and trav- eled to the Sugarland area where more than a dozen people were ferried from their homes. On the fi nal two days of his volunteer stint, he spent time in the communities along the Colorado River, which had crested at around 59 feet. Over the course of four days, he transported about 60 people, including a family of seven and a very pregnant woman and her husband. Leftwich teamed up with his brother- in-law and some friends to help with rescue efforts. As duck hunters and fi shermen, the six men had three fi shing boats. They relied on social media reports, including Facebook posts, to see where help was needed. Cajun Navy, a Louisiana grassroots group formed by private citizens during Hurricane Katrina, also provided guidance. "The Cajun Navy dispatcher organized rescue work- ers," Leftwich says. "They were very well organized and would announce areas where people needed to be evacuated. "The neat part about it was citizens just came together without anyone telling us what to do," he adds. "Everybody worked together to get it done." At Hanson Aggregates, Lindsey had gone to the company's Brazos plant to pick up the boat the oper- ation uses to shuttle back and forth to its dredge so he would be able to get back into the plant and as- sess damage after the hurricane passed. As the storm worsened, he realized there was a more immediate need. "We knew the neighborhoods in the surround- ing area were going to get fl ooded, just based off the weather forecasts," he says. "We thought there might be an opportunity to help. The need was so great that there just weren't enough emergency responders to evacuate everybody that needed to be evacuated." Working with the site's outgoing plant manager, Sean Steagall, and incoming plant manager, Jake Mc- Curry, the Hanson contingent took the boat into the Weston Lakes area, a neighborhood cut off by water. Lindsey stayed on the shore to allow more passen- gers to be evacuated. Steagall and McCurry evacuat- ed about 25 people over the course of the day. "I was surprised at how calm everyone was — even those who had lost more or less everything," Lindsey says, "maybe it was because they were still trying to soak in what had just happened." Oquin spotted Lindsey's bright personal pro- tective gear that day. "He noticed my rain jacket said Hanson Aggregates," Lindsey recalls. "We got to talking and knew a lot of the same people." "He road with me for a couple hours and asked if I had a place to stay," Oquin says. When Oquin mentioned sleeping in his truck, Lindsey and his wife had him spend the night at their home and fed him. "He called me every day to see if I needed help or a place to stay," he adds. Another construction materials company, Sprint Services (owner of Sprint Sand & Clay, LLC) also pro- vided housing for Oquin and some state troopers for the remainder of his stay in the Houston area. "Sprint went above and beyond what they needed to do," he says. "They had shower facilities there. Every day, I would get back and they would fi ll my truck with diesel. They would feed us at night and again in the morning. They were great to work with." eled to the Sugarland area where more than a dozen people were ferried from their homes. On the fi nal two days of his volunteer stint, he spent time in the communities along the Colorado River, which had crested at around 59 feet. Over the course of four days, he transported about 60 people, including a family of seven and a very pregnant woman and her husband. in-law and some friends to help with rescue efforts. As duck hunters and fi shermen, the AGGREGATES MANAGER / December 2017 7