The floods in Iowa started on June 8. Severe storms devastated the state with a foot of rainfall right after a very wet spring. Floodwaters effectively formed a single body of water moving from the north-central part of the state to the south and east.

Along the way, the floods engulfed a chain of communities, affecting much of the state's population. Roughly 1700 Iowa National Guards were deployed statewide on flood duty and the governor declared 55 out of the state’s 99 counties to be disaster areas.

When Iowa called for help, Terex, Case Construction, New Holland Construction and Godwin Pumps answered by delivering equipment to help out with the levees and to relieve floodwaters in areas of need.

To help out, Terex sent two semi-trailer loads of bottled drinking water to its Waverly and Cedar Rapids manufacturing facilities. Terex also provided gift cards to all team members who were directly affected by the floodwaters to help with their basic needs and offered temporary housing assistance. In addition, the company donated wheel loaders, backhoes, mini excavators and light towers to speed the cleanup work.

Case Construction Equipment arranged for the use of the first of several crawler dozers to help fortify levees along the swollen Iowa and Mississippi rivers. New Holland Construction contributed to the Iowa flood relief efforts by providing equipment for the levee fortification and cleanup operations. Godwin Pumps contributed more than 400 of its portable diesel-driven and electric submersible pumps working to relieve floodwaters.

The following releases from Terex, Case Construction, New Holland Construction and Godwin Pumps detail more about their aid after the Iowa floods.

Terex Corporation Donates Aid and Equipment for Clean-Up Efforts in the Midwest

Westport, CT. and Southaven, MS. (July 16, 2008) – The historic flooding that affected many thousands of homeowners and businesses throughout the Midwest also had an impact on Terex team members and manufacturing facilities in Iowa. Nearly 70 Terex Cranes team members’ lives were affected by the flood waters in Waverly, while more than 30 members of the Terex USA facility in Cedar Rapids were affected by flooding there. Additionally, the Terex Cedar Rapids facility lost power and phone service for a period of several days.

“The entire Terex family was saddened to learn of the devastating effects that the flood waters had on so many of the lives of our team members and their families,” said Ron DeFeo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “At the same time, we were truly inspired both by how our Iowa team members pitched in to help each other and the fact that they remained dedicated to doing their jobs for Terex throughout this wrenching ordeal.“

To help the individuals and the communities directly affected by the flooding begin the road to recovery, Terex Corporation established a two-pronged strategy for donating assistance: one for its internal team members; and a second for the communities in which they live.

Upon learning of the need, Terex sent two semi-trailer loads of bottled drinking water to the Waverly and Cedar Rapids manufacturing facilities, which took a small portion of the shipment and then donated the rest to the Red Cross to help flood victims. Terex also provided gift cards to all team members who were directly affected by the floodwaters to help with basic needs assistance, and the company offered temporary housing assistance.  The company also established a “Terex Helping Terex” program wherein Terex team members can contribute cash donations to help team members affected by the flooding in Iowa.

“The factory also rallied volunteers from within to assist in the clean-up efforts for fellow team members affected by the floodwaters,” says Lowell Puls, general manager of Terex Cedar Rapids plant. “We continue to explore other means for assisting them further.”

For the Cedar Rapids and surrounding communities, Terex donated equipment from its Terex Construction Americas (TCA) business segment to help with the clean-up efforts. Immediately after the Cedar River’s June 13 crest, Terex sent an assessment team to Cedar Rapids to make contacts with city leaders and public works officials to determine the needs. Nearly $600,000 worth of wheel loaders, backhoes, mini excavators and light towers were shipped on June 17 from North Carolina to the Terex Cedar Rapids facility, where the equipment was staged for pick up by any city department that needed it.

“We wanted to be a part of the solution, and we informed city officials that the equipment was being donated free of charge for whatever they needed to help with clean-up efforts and for as long as they needed it,” explains Tim Karnitz, regional sales manager, west central region, for Terex Construction Americas. “Everyone was incredibly grateful for the gesture, and the cities of Palo and Cedar Rapids almost immediately picked up our SKL 873 wheel loaders to put them to use.” Currently, the equipment is being loaned to the cities on a four-week basis with extension periods available as needed.

Home to the manufacture of crushing and screening equipment for Terex Materials Processing and asphalt paving equipment for Terex Roadbuilding – the Terex plant in Cedar Rapids did not sustain water damage from the record water levels of the Cedar River that reached beyond the 500-year flood plain. However, the flooding affected the electrical grid supplying power to the offices and factory.

“The short-term power interruptions resulted in a disruption to paver equipment and parts deliveries for some of our customers. However, we are now fully operational, are working to quickly recover from these delays and look forward to continuing to supply our customers with parts and equipment,” says Mark Hunt, senior director of business development and paver operations for Terex Roadbuilding. “Our entire team appreciates the concern, support and understanding shown by our customers as we work through the impact of the power outage and the effects of the flooding on some of our team members.”    

Case Dispatches Crawler Dozers to Help with Levee Fortification in Iowa

June 17, 2008

Case Construction Equipment has arranged for the use of the first of several crawler dozers to help fortify levees along the swollen Iowa and Mississippi rivers. The emergency request is a result of the record rainfall in the Midwest last week.

Case dispatched the first crawler dozer to Oakville, Iowa, which is located near the Case manufacturing plant in Burlington. According to Tracy Gach of the Case dozer product management team, Federal Levee District 16 specifically requested the 850L because of its superior performance under current, exceptionally muddy conditions, which require extra flotation. Case has confirmed that Bob Hinson, an expert operator with many years of experience working at the Case Proving Grounds in Burlington, had volunteered to operate the dozer for this application. The machine and operator since have been reassigned to Kingston, Iowa, where they are supporting work at a pumping station.

In addition Case put another 850L to work south of Burlington, along with a 1650L and 1850K crawler dozer, which were dispatched to Green Bay Bottoms along the Mississippi River. The company also responded today to a request from the National Guard to supply a Case 580 Super M loader/backhoe. Current and retired Case employees have volunteered their time to operate the equipment.

“We followed the news of devastating floods in Cedar Rapids and the potential for serious flooding across other parts of Iowa,” said Jim Hasler, vice president, Case Construction Equipment. “Case has a strong track record of loaning equipment and other resources in emergency situations, such as these levee fortification efforts. This particular project hits extra close to home because one of our four key North American manufacturing plants is in Burlington.”

Since the levees in Cedar Rapids were breached, Case has also been contacted regarding the possibility of providing equipment for cleanup efforts. Case is working with its local dealers in Iowa to arrange assistance to flood-damaged areas.

New Holland Lends Helping Hand in Flood-Stricken Iowa

June 20, 2008

New Holland Construction has contributed to the Iowa flood relief efforts by providing equipment for the levee fortification and clean up operations. The D95B dozer and M428 telehandler loaned by the manufacturer have been hard at work since their arrival.

“New Holland has a particularly close connection with Iowa, and especially Burlington, where one of our key manufacturing plants is based,” said Edgar J. Chavez, New Holland Construction Marketing Director. “It is important to us to support this community at such a difficult time and contribute to the relief operations.”

The D95B dozer is helping the levee fortification works in the Green Bay Levee and Drainage District, while the M428 telehandler is greatly appreciated in the clean up operations, where the lift capacity and reach is making it possible to limit further damages by lifting building debris and trees.

Godwin Pumps Active in Midwest Flood Relief

June 25, 2008

Godwin Pumps, the largest manufacturer of portable rental pumps in the United States with 24 branch offices and a network of more than 100 distributors worldwide, has more than 400 of its portable diesel-driven and electric submersible pumps working to relieve floodwaters inundating the Midwest.

Within four hours of a Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) call on Sunday, June 8, Godwin’s Chicago (IL) Branch Manager, Jeff Pass, began deploying 28 flagship Godwin Dri-Prime six-inch and eight-inch pumps to Iowa’s FEMA headquarters at Camp Dodge in Johnston. On June 9, Godwin’s Bridgeport (NJ) headquarters mobilized 48 six-inch pumps to Camp Dodge. On June 10, Godwin sent an additional 20 six- and eight-inch pumps from Bridgeport to FEMA in Iowa. At current, Godwin’s Chicago (IL) Branch has helped to supply 174 pumps to locations including the Iowa Department of Transportation in Oakdale (43 six- and eight-inch pumps), the city of Rock Island (IL) (nine four- to twelve-inch pumps) and the Army Corps of Engineers in Terre Haute (IN) (eight eight-inch pumps and one light tower). These efforts have been supported by Godwin’s branch locations including Houston (TX), Buffalo (NY), Atlanta (GA), Los Angeles (CA), Tampa (FL), and its multiple branches in Virginia and the Carolinas that have combined to ship 20 tractor trailer loads of pumps and related equipment to various locations throughout the Midwest.

Godwin Pumps’ Midwest Corporate Manager, Bob Spinner said, “These floodwaters are farther-reaching than you can grasp from watching news segments. Having seen it first-hand, we are well-aware that the flooding won’t stop while we load trucks. We moved as many pumps as we could, as fast as we possibly could. The amount of pumps that we were able to mobilize is truly impressive.”

In addition to the pumps deploying directly from Godwin branch locations, Godwin distributors throughout the Midwest including Central Service & Supply, Inc., Heartland Pump Rental & Sales, Inc., Lee Mathews Equipment, Inc. and Lincoln Contractors Supply, Inc. have responded to flood relief efforts. Roughly 300 units have deployed to locations throughout Wisconsin, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma.

Said Godwin president, John Paz, “We are proud of the way our branches and distributors have responded to these floods. They have been tireless in identifying the needs of the people calling upon them – whenever they call upon them – and in quickly mobilizing the equipment that will provide relief. It’s been a true team effort – one that you can only step back and appreciate once the threat is over. Our pumps and people will remain on the scene until the waters recede.”

Godwin and its distributors have deployed a variety of equipment including Godwin’s Sub-Prime electric submersible pumps for situations including sump dewatering; Heidra hydraulic submersibles for situations including underground parking garage dewatering; Godwin Power generators; Godwin Lights light towers; and hose, pipe, and fittings to complete the pumping solutions needed to divert flow.