Case Histories

Townsend : A Key Responder to Hurricane Katrina (August 2005)

When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005 the devastation across southern Louisiana and Mississippi was beyond comprehension. It was obvious from the start that restoration efforts would take months. Katrina would scar the area for years.

Among the first responders to enter the stricken area were crews from companies such as The Townsend Corporation. Townsend quickly began clearing away damaged and downed trees. Crews also went about the massive task of restoring fallen power lines. Over 700 representatives from Townsend Tree Service and NG Gilbert (the company’s electrical construction division) went to work almost immediately after the storm had passed. The companies provided critical services to help clean up the aftermath, and the repairs helped numerous communities get back on their feet.

Crews from the company spent two months working non-stop in communities from Gulfport, Mississippi to New Orleans in Louisiana. Their work also focused on areas where the eye of the storm hit. Townsend crews were some of the first responders to arrive in many of the areas affected by the storm. They were a relief for many residents. Utility companies that benefited from Townsend’s assistance included Entergy, Mississippi Power and several electric cooperatives in the two-state area.

Kelley Electric: Crews Install Mass Notification Systems (January 2008)

Kelley Electric is a small electrical contractor based out of Missouri. It was founded in 1945. Since then, the company has been involved in electrical construction for a variety of industrial to commercial applications. However, this modest company also happens to be one of the primary installers of Mass Notification Systems at United States Military Bases in Iraq, helping protect servicemen abroad for the past 3 years.

Mass Notification Systems are installed in areas where security is of the utmost importance. Applications include not only military bases, but also universities. The tragic shootings at Virginia Tech heightened the need for Mass Notification Systems, and Kelly Electric has seen the call for its services increase as a result.

A typical mass notification system sets off sirens and alarms system-wide whenever a substantial breach of security, such as an attack, is detected. This helps notify all personnel in the effected area. It also sends out mass e-mails and potentially text messages to all personnel to inform them of both the situation and what to do in these crisis situations Kelley’s work in this area is just one example of how Townsend is expanding its scope of services on a global level.