Page 49 - 2019 Sustainability Report

A STORM OF SUPPORT

MARTIN MARIETTA AND VENDORS OFFER SUPPLIES,

SUPPORT AND RELIEF IN WAKE OF HURRICANE DORIAN

Complete devastation.
That’s how Plant Manager Jaquan Wright describes the “Whenever possible, we provided the same
effects of Hurricane Dorian, the worst storm in the history level of support to the community as we
of The Bahamas. provided to our employees.”
Bahama Rock, a Martin Marietta aggregates operation in
Freeport, made arrangements prior to the storm’s arrival, With power restored, water running and food on site,
but no one could have prepared for the destruction it residents began the road to recovery, supported by relief
caused after making landfall in September, noted Regional efforts that not only focused on physical necessities, but
Production Manager Phil White.
mental and emotional needs as well.
With no power, no water and no cell phone service, the “You hear stories about floating bodies or family members
Bahamian people relied on another resource — each other.
being unaccounted for — it’s all too real,” Wright said. “It
“Our plant vehicles were surprisingly OK,” White said. has a psychological effect.”
“As soon as we were able to account for our people, we The Bahama Rock team tapped into the Employee
helped transport utility company staff so they could assess Assistance Program, bringing in a psychologist to meet
the city, gauge the devastation and determine what was with and counsel employees. The two-hour group session
needed to restore power.”
helped employees see the situation through a new lens
With available company labor, equipment and resources, and encouraged them to practice gratitude and focus on
Martin Marietta team members helped restore power the road ahead, Wright says, adding that team members
to the city, and soon, water as well. Employees also were thankful for the assistance.
conducted emergency rescues, restored roads and From grief to gratitude, a range of emotions overwhelmed
provided supplies to the community, White says.
the Bahamian people.
Stateside, company employees organized relief and “It really hits home when you hear your employees
support while battling suspended travel and severed say, ‘We have a new normal,’” said Hank Weil, human
communications. Within days, management had large resources manager in the Southeast Division. “There was
shipping containers stocked with supplies en route to still a lot of recovery going on from Hurricane Matthew in
the island nation.
2016. The Bahamas don’t have as strong of an economy
“It couldn’t have happened any quicker,” Wright said. as we do in the United States. It’s going to take some time
Vendors also contributed, immediately sending to recover.”
non-perishable food items, generators and other And while The Bahamas rebuilds, they won’t be starting
donations. Tractor & Equipment Company, along with from scratch. They’ll find comfort in building upon a
Applied Industrial Technologies, donated critical supplies. foundation already made strong by community.
Along with suspended travel and severed
communications, the company faced another
challenge when international restrictions prevented Employees at Bahama Rock unload donations and
the distribution of funds from the Martin Marietta supplies following Hurricane Dorian in September.
Employee Relief Foundation, a charitable venture fully
funded by employees. Without hesitation, the company
donated thousands of dollars directly to employees and
purchased thousands more in supplies.
“Whenever possible, we provided the same level of
support to the community as we provided to our
employees,” Wright said. “One of our guys lived far
away from the city, and we couldn’t get in touch with
him for a while. When we finally did, we gave him and
his neighbors the donated items they needed.”

49 / MARTIN MARIETTA / SUSTAINABILITY REPORT / 2019