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Flood, Looters Can't Stop Hurricane Fuel Delivery
HSB claim specialists must act fast as they help clients recover from storms and other calamities. So they didn't hesitate when a call came in after Hurricane Katrina, asking for generator fuel in New Orleans. It was a harrowing trip for the rescue drivers, who dodged looters and flood waters to make the delivery.
STRANDED IN NEW ORLEANS
About 1,700 people were stranded in a French Quarter hotel, with dwindling stocks of food and clean water. The looting had begun and hotel management feared guests would be in danger if the generator ran out of diesel and the emergency lights went out. They needed fuel in a hurry. Could HSB and its contractors and suppliers help?
"HOW SOON DO THEY NEED IT?"
John Nosari, director of loss recovery and adjustment in Atlanta, contacted an experienced engineering consultant, Ron Chauffe of ElectriMech Corp., who often works with HSB and lives about 110 miles from New Orleans. "Ron's reply was, 'How much do they need and how soon do they need it,'" Nosari said.
22 CHECKPOINTS
Within an hour, Chauffe had 1,500 gallons of fuel for HSB, but how to deliver it? As the water began to rise in New Orleans, he explored several options, even a helicopter, but he set out with two tanker trucks. What should have been a two-hour drive took more than four hours on flooded roads and passed through 22 checkpoints.
HELP THE POLICE
The last checkpoint was about two blocks from the hotel. State police there had just ended a shootout with looters and their armored vehicle was almost out of fuel. The delivery crew paused and shared some of their diesel cargo. It was 4 a.m. by the time they reached the hotel and finished refueling the generator.
TURN THE LIGHTS ON
Chauffe made several trips to the city. He located and installed a storage tank for fresh drinking water. When flooding shorted out the generator and intruders threatened the darkened hotel, he got it running again. Once power was restored to the area, ElectriMech helped dry out the electrical system before it was activated.
HIGHER GROUND
The crisis ended without further incident. Chauffe helped evacuate guests to higher ground and supplied diesel for another hotel and the city's aquarium. New Orleans officials asked him to bring extra fuel for police cars and fire trucks.
"REACH OUT AND HELP"
"Apparently, HSB was capable of mobilizing supplies that city officials could not," said Nancy Onken, HSB senior vice president and general manager for claims. "We will assist in any way we can," added Nosari. "We reach out and help whenever we can."
