VTCA Aggregate Members Aid in Hurricane Helene Relief
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Collapsed road near Independence, VA – |
Along with Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee, many areas in Southwest Virginia were devastated by flooding caused by Hurricane Helene in late September. There have been many pictures and videos showing the devastation to roads, homes, businesses, and other infrastructure critical to the everyday life of residents of these impacted communities. As we have all seen, the only way to reach many victims has been by helicopter, ATVs, and even by horseback and mule teams. Immediately following the rescue of victims, the next step to recovery is accessing these areas to provide critical supplies and assist with rebuilding lives.
The DOTs and local contractors have been and remain diligent in efforts to open access to these decimated regions. A critical component of these efforts is aggregates…and lots of it…in a hurry! In some cases, rivers have relocated, sides of mountains have come down and some roads in these valleys have been destroyed and need to be completely rebuilt from nothing.
Several VTCA Aggregate members have operations in Southwest Virginia and were themselves impacted by the storm when their pits were flooded. Over the past two years, VTCA worked with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to amend the Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit Regulation for Nonmetallic Mineral Mining to permit mining operations the ability to dewater pits in emergency conditions. The amended regulation was issued in July of this year. The industry’s argument with DEQ was that when flooding of this magnitude occurs, large quantities of aggregates are critical for recovery. Relief would be hindered if suppliers were shut down waiting to meet water clarity limits before they could dewater their pits and become operational.
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| Location unknown – Photo Courtesy VDOT |
Many of these operations have been supplying aggregate products to aid in the rebuilding of roads, culverts, and bridges. Some have been supplying materials seven days a week since the rains subsided.
According to Charlie Scott, Sales for Martin Marietta’s Abingdon Quarry, they have been furnishing material to aid in the rebuilding of roads in the hard-hit area around Damascus, VA. Charlie estimates they have shipped several thousand tons to date. This Martin Marietta Division also has several operations in hard-hit Eastern Tennessee, and according to Charlie, there were several coworkers in their Tennessee plants that they could not connect with following the storm and who were stranded without any communications until first responders ultimately rescued them.
Salem Stone affiliates, Wytheville Stone, Cardinal Reality-Galax Quarry, and Cardinal Quarries-Smethport Quarry (NC) have also been instrumental in furnishing aggregates to these areas. According to sales manager, Chip Dunston, these operations have been crushing and shipping aggregates 7 days a week, often operating for 10 to 12 hours daily.
Salem Stone’s operations are furnishing materials for recovery efforts in both Virginia and North Carolina.
Appalachian Aggregates are also aiding in flood recovery efforts in Southwest Virginia. Many of their Virginia operations are involved in furnishing aggregates to rebuild not only public roads and bridges but are participating in the rebuilding of private infrastructure as well. Many driveways, culverts, and private roads were decimated by the storms.
Two Appalachian Aggregates quarries, Glade Springs and Mouth of Wilson, are heavily involved in supplying aggregate to damaged roads. The two quarries are positioned on either side of the severely damaged U.S. 58 from east of Damascus to Konnarock. Some estimates indicate this section of road may not be reopened for several years.
Within a couple of days after the flood waters receded, road crews went to work calling for load after load of aggregate to build temporary access through the hardest hit areas. VDOT requested Appalachian Aggregates ship materials 12 hours per day, seven days a week.
According to an anonymous official at Appalachian Aggregates, workers at their operations stepped up to answer the call to render aid to the communities that had been devastated. Long shifts and hard work without a break by their front-line men and women are what is making a difference in putting these communities back together. Company managers have also stepped up and pulled shifts in the plants to allow workers a much-needed break. The Appalachian official also wanted to commend the independent haulers who are working hard alongside the quarry workers and VDOT crews to get the job done.
To show their appreciation Appalachian Aggregates recently held cookouts for their workers and haulers.
At the height of the storm, when the magnitude was realized, several Appalachian Aggregate associates jumped into action and went to the operations to move equipment away from inevitable flooding in the pits. This extraordinary action allowed the Appalachian Aggregate quarries to be fully operational and ready to serve immediately following the storm.
Over in the Hillsville, VA area, VTCA Aggregate Member, F&M Quarry is doing their part to assist with rebuilding infrastructure. F&M was asked to furnish material seven days per week. According to Marvin Sharpe, F&M Mine Manager, some of their crew worked 12-hour shifts the first couple of weeks following the flooding.
Sharpe says that much of the material they are supplying has gone to the New River State Park area and for work centered around the Byllesby and Buck Dams on the New River.
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| New River in Fries, VA – Courtesy Yvonne Parker |
Most of the operations have scaled back to working five days per week, however many are still working 10-to-12-hour shifts to get the job done.
VDOT Bristol District Engineer, Tabitha Crowder, P.E. had this to say about the role of the aggregate suppliers:
“Since the remnants of Hurricane Helene ripped through parts of Southwest Virginia, VDOT has worked to reopen hundreds of roads in the region. Where heavy damage was received, a key element of accomplishing this was working quickly and outside normal business hours with many aggregate suppliers throughout the region, including VTCA members. The responsiveness of all those who have worked with us to quickly and safely open roads in the region is greatly appreciated.“
All the Aggregate Member’s representatives that contributed to this article commended their crews for their dedication and willingness to jump in and do whatever it takes to provide the needed materials to rebuild those communities and lifelines...the roads.
A lot of people working at these aggregate operations have put in a herculean effort to supply a staggering quantity of critical products in a very short amount of time required to rebuild the lives of friends, families, and neighbors. Next time you run into representatives from these Aggregate Producer Members, be sure to give them a shout-out for their efforts!