To all who helped in our flooding crisis:
We, the Board of Directors of St. Mary Industrial Group, individually and on behalf of our member companies, wish to express our appreciation and thanks to those who have done so much to combat the recent threat of flooding. Even though the full effects of the flooding never materialized, it doesn’t diminish the Herculean efforts that were undertaken to prevent what could have been a real tragedy in our area.
Although we will certainly fail to mention many who may have significantly contributed to the flood fight, we want to at least recognize some of those whose efforts we are acutely aware. This would include the mayors of Morgan City, Berwick, and Patterson; the Office of Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security; the parish government; the sheriff’s office; the U.S. Coast Guard; and the tireless members of the Louisiana National Guard. Thank you all!
Additionally, because it was so important in preventing backwater flooding, the Bayou Chene project deserves special mention. Accordingly, we must give a special “thank you” to Mr. William H. “Bill” Hidalgo, president of the St. Mary Levee District Board, and his Executive Director, Allen Kelly, who engineered the project and to J. Ray McDermott and the numerous contractors who worked tirelessly to put the barge and pilings in place.
Of course we would surely be remiss if we failed to thank Col. Edward R. Fleming of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who displayed a keen understanding that the project at hand wasn’t an academic engineering exercise but one that would profoundly affect the lives of thousands. His willingness to find a way to make the project succeed, by facilitating the issuing of the requisite permits and giving assistance to the locals every step of the way, is to be saluted.
And last, but not least, thank you to all our citizens for cooperating in the fight to protect our communities. Once again, the old adage was proven: a crisis often brings out the best in people.
Again, we apologize for not being able to mention everyone who contributed to the flood fight because we know it has taken the joint efforts of everyone involved to keep the waters at bay.
Thank you all.
St. Mary Industrial Group
(S) R.E. “Bob” Miller
President
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