Nashville, Tenn. (Dec. 17, 2012) – Hurricane Sandy did not have an effect on Music City, but several Nashville District employees did tune into the immediate call for assistance on the east coast and volunteered to deploy and assist with the recovery effort.
Nashville District employees always provide a tremendous response when a call goes out for volunteers to assist in a natural disaster or other emergency, according to Jerry Breznican, Emergency Management Branch chief.
‘”It’s refreshing to know that in a time of need, LRN employees are willing to sacrifice holidays, birthdays, and even weddings to deploy and support first response missions,” Breznican said. “Forty Nashville District employees volunteered to deploy to assist in Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts within the first hour after our email request went out,” he added.
Seven employees have already deployed and returned; and two are currently deployed.
Tim Rochelle and Ron Gatlin deployed to Lakehurst, N.J., as Emergency Command and Control Vehicle team members Oct. 26 to Nov. 14, 2012, and they were replaced by Jon Stinson and Harold “Skeeter” Deskins who deployed there Nov. 13 to Dec. 2, 2012.
Connie Hardeman deployed to the New York District Oct. 28 to Nov. 16, 2012 as an ENGLink Strike Team member; and Adrienne Washington deployed to the Pittsburgh District Oct. 30 to Nov. 21, 2012 in a similar assignment.
Lt. Col. James A. DeLapp, Nashville District commander, deployed to Fort Hamilton, N.Y. Nov. 14-17, 2012 to serve as an After Action Report writer.
Linda Lee is presently deployed to the Recovery Field Office in Queens, N.Y., as a database manager and Eleanor Ervin, a debris administrative assistant, is also deployed.
“Volunteers are to be congratulated and supervisors are to be commended for allowing individuals within their workforce to deploy because the local mission must continue and they do whatever it takes so these responders can deploy to assist those in need.” Brezinican said.
“This type support reflects the character of personnel assigned to the Nashville District -- whenever disaster strikes, our employees answer the call,” he added.