Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/880397
WEEKLY EDITION SEPT 27, 2017 Hurricane Follow Up Checking back in with PSAI Members after the initial hit of Hurricane Irma Two weeks ago the PSAI talked with Members affected by Hurricane Irma in both the Caribbean and in Florida. This week we reached out again to those companies to get an update on how they are doing in the aftermath of the storm. Considering that Hurricane Maria has recently swept through the Caribbean, it is unsurprising that our previously contacted Members there were unable to take the time to comment on this story. For them, the effects are fresh and we can only assume that they have all hands on deck. Our Florida Members, however, are also still keeping very busy with the aftermath. When we reached Jennifer Corrigan (JW Craft Portable Restrooms) this week, she assured that they are still putting toilets out in the areas that need them, although these areas have altered a bit. Both Jennifer and Ross Ambrose (AAA Porta Serve) mentioned that much of the focus is now on servicing heavily damaged areas where contractors are working to repair homes. Jennifer explained how, throughout the first week after Irma hit, they were "all living on adrenaline and going through the motions." But she couldn't ignore how emotional the last few weeks have been. "We're human too," she explained. "Naples is a wealthy city, but there are areas in the county that are poor – we see the homes and families that were destroyed by this and it hits us on an emotional level." Many of us can only begin to imagine what our Members have seen and gone through in hurricane-affected areas, which Jennifer hit on. "It's different when we turn on the nightly news and see Texas or Puerto Rico and we're not there – but when it's your community, it's different. My mood is a little different from the last time we spoke – we're tired. But we're still pushing along," she stated. Personifying this for her company, Jennifer couldn't help but mention one of her employees, a JW Craft Supervisor named Mike (pictured right, goofing around with Jennifer). "He's a hero in our eyes," she said. "He hasn't had a day off since [the hurricane] and is working 12 hours a day, every day… I'm surprised he hasn't really strangled me!" While the aftermath is undoubtedly emotional and taxing, the overall need for portable sanitation has been significant. Jennifer mentioned how in some low-income areas surrounding Naples there have been deaths due to exposed, raw sewage. Thankfully, many PSAI Members have rallied together in these hurricane-affected areas to help in any way they can. Ross highlighted how one AAA Porta Serve customer needed help getting a stretch of I-95 serviced at the rest areas. "They asked us because they had not had luck in finding a provider," he said. "I reached out to some PSAI Members that were closer and while they could not handle the work, they referred me to someone they thought could. It worked out and my contact was really thankful that we were able to get them connected so quickly to a solution." PAGE 10 CONTINUED ON PAGE 11