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Indiana Locals Help Tornado Victims

April 16, 2012

When Ray Kasmark, business manager of Gary, Ind., Local 697, heard that 13 people died when tornadoes ripped through his state’s southwestern region on March 2, he thought about the floods in his own jurisdiction back in 2008.

The human toll of the Calumet River flooding was less severe than the tornadoes, but Kasmark says:

We have been on their side of the coin. Several retirees and members had property damage from the floods and some volunteered to restore electric service to their neighbors.

Today, Local 697 members have joined a community effort to collect supplies needed by tornado victims more than four hours away, including food, toiletries and baby products. Between collections on job sites and trips to Costco to buy supplies, local members have helped fill trucks driven south by Teamster members.

Closer to the tornado’s path, members of Louisville, Ky., Local 369 have sent four  truckloads of supplies to residents left homeless from the twister and two more to Goodwill Industries. More than $3,500 was collected at the union hall for the victims. The IBEW-NECA labor-management committee contributed $5,000. Many members have volunteered to help in clean-up efforts with the United Way and the Red Cross.

Building trades leaders asked the United Way how the trades could help tornado victims. They were referred to an elderly family that had lost their mobile home and all possessions in the tornado and were not covered by insurance. Says Local 369 Business Manager Bill Finn:

They are living in dire straits in a hotel. The trades are working out blue prints, supplies and a starting date to build a new house for the family for free in the next few weeks.

Finn, whose jurisdiction covers the majority of damaged towns, has received e-mails from IBEW districts asking how members can help. Supplies have also come in from Indianapolis Local 481, He says:

It was great to see the community coming together to help their neighbors in their time of need. So many donations were made at the hall that we were unable to list all the contributors.

President Edwin D. Hill says:

IBEW members are always there when our neighbors are in trouble. We should all be proud that our members in Indiana and Kentucky have worked to lessen the burden on families who have been so devastated by powerful and destructive forces of nature.

To find out more how to help the tornadoes victims, e-mail Bill Finn at billfinn@ibewlocal369.com.