Earlier this year, prolonged rainfall in southern parts of Louisiana resulted in catastrophic flooding that submerged thousands of houses and businesses, including ABC Pelican Chapter. The chapter had two to three feet of water in its administrative building and training center. 

In the days following the disaster, ABC chapters and ABC members across the country contributed $54,000 to the employee assistance fund to benefit ABC Pelican Chapter staff members impacted by the flood. 

Faced with the daunting task of rebuilding their programs, the chapter worked around the clock to get its high school and evening classes back up and running in alternate locations. The cost of water remediation and repairs to the chapter training facilities is estimated at $900,000.

Three months after the flooding in Louisiana, ABC Pelican Chapter President Alvin Bargas addressed the ABC National Board of Directors at its Nov. 14 meeting in Dallas to give an update on the state of affairs in Baton Rouge. After an emotional speech, fellow chapter presidents took to the floor to raise more than $240,000 to support the Pelican Chapter in rebuilding the chapter’s training infrastructure. In addition, the Trimmer Construction Education Foundation donated $100,000 to the relief efforts and the Executive Committee donated $15,000 from its Strategic Initiatives Fund.

Those who wish to support the relief efforts during this difficult time can do so by visiting the ABC Pelican Chapter Flood Update webpage.