I am
just writing to tell you that 'thank you' will never be enough for what you
and your employees have done for our families and friends in this time of
disaster. We were told that we would not get power for a period of four
weeks and I am very happy to say that our waiting period was six days. Your
employees were non-stop in this awful heat fighting what they call the
two-headed bugs to get us normal again, as if it were their own families
they were working for. Whatever their salaries were would never be enough
for what they did for all of us. And we owe it all to them for giving us the
electricity to take the first step to living a little bit of a normal life.
And special thanks to the guys on Asa Miley Road who turned on the air
conditioning for a very special child next door that could not make it
without it. Once they found out that this mentally challenged child needed
help, it was done. What more can we say? We love you Northern guys, and you
do talk funny. God Bless you all and your families as you have blessed us.
Joanna W.
Hello,
... I live in a little community just north of
Hattiesburg, Mississippi called Eatonville, and I would like to say THANK
YOU! Your company should be very proud of your employees who came down here
to assist us in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. All of the Henkels &
McCoy people who worked in our area were extremely helpful and nice to us.
They were always giving everyone ice and encouragement in our time of need.
They showed the utmost in professionalism in their job. We just got our
telephone service back today. Our power was restored in our area just one
week after the storm. We just can't say thanks enough.
Sincerely,
Richard and Mary P.
Glen and Elsie P.
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
This is the only E-mail address I can find on the web site, so I hope
this note gets to the right person... I live just north of Biloxi,
Mississippi in a subdivision called Woolmarket. I had to work
during Hurricane Katrina. When I finally left the hospital, I think it was
Thursday after the storm, I was given 2 hours to go check on my home and
family, then, was to be back at the hospital. As I got off the I-10 exit,
heading north on highway 67, on the exit, on the side of the road was an
incredible line of power trucks with "Henkels & McCoy", Bluebell, Pa., on
their doors. (Just typing this brings tears to my eyes.) I had to fight the
urge to pull over, find the guy in charge, and just give him, and all the
guys a big hug. The only reason I didn't stop is because I was already
crying, so close to home, and needed to see my family so desperately. It was
like those big men were angels. My Dad (in Tampa, Fla.) worked
for Henkels & McCoy for many years, and he would send men out right after
storms, some times out of the country. I never really knew what all that
really involved, or meant. But, now, I have seen, firsthand, how important
those guys are and the job they do. There are workers down here right now
sleeping in their trucks and in tents still getting power back in some
areas. I just wanted to say you are all incredible. Your men were in my
neighborhood after the storm even before I was. We were, and still are, so
very, very tired, and overwhelmed with all the work there is to do. It was
just amazing to me that people were already helping us, before we realized
it. And if it is now, like it was when I was a kid and my Dad was in the
business, these men volunteered to go. Thank You does not seem like enough!
God Bless you all, you will never know how much your help truly meant to us
all down here!
Joann T.
Woolmarket, Miss.
Thanks is such a small word and does not adequately tell you how grateful
we are to you. When I saw your truck in front of our house, I was really
humbled to know that people so far away from Mississippi are willing to help
us in a small community. I don’t know if this is enough address to get to
you. This is what I saw on your truck.
Thanks Always,
Virgil and Alma Dean H.
You Really Brightened Up My Day
Thank you for sending your crews to the Sulphur, Louisiana area after
Hurricane Rita. Several gentlemen fixed the electrical pole in front of our
house. They were very wonderful men for leaving their homes to help others
and strangers. Unfortunately I did not get any names, but if that is a
sample of your employees, you have a wonderful crew.
Thank You Again,
Mike & Deanna K.
Sulphur, Louisiana
Gentlemen-- My husband... is the troubleman for Entergy in
Crystal Springs, Mississippi. He has been on many storms over the years but
has never had catastrophe in his own community. It was a wonderful sight to
(see) Henkels & McCoy trucks come into our small town on Wednesday, August
31, 2005. Thank you for sending your men to Copiah County, Mississippi.
Everyone in Crystal Springs and Hazlehurst have nothing but praise for them.
I personally thank and appreciate each man and their families.
Sincerely,
Frankie W.
I am not sure if I have the right e-mail address. There is a crew from
Henkels & McCoy in Westlake, Louisiana restoring power from Hurricane Rita.
The citizens have been asked not to talk to them as it would interrupt the
work they are doing. I would like to let them know, and their employers as
well, they have been doing a great job. We appreciate everything they are
doing. Without their skills and manpower, we would not even have one-tenth
of the power restored.
Thank you all from families on Miller Ave.
Again, Thank you! Thank you very much!
November 3, 2005
Dear Mr. Henkels:
Words can’t express our appreciation for Henkels & McCoy’s assistance with
restoration efforts after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, our
country’s worst natural disaster.
You made history as part of an unprecedented workforce of more than 12,000
who restored electricity and hope to our 195,000 customers within 12 days
after the disaster. Your company distinguished itself in the caring and
inspired way it tackled this challenge in the harshest of conditions.
As the Gulf Coast begins its healing and rebuilding process, know that your
company’s assistance after the storm made miracles begin to happen.
Yours very truly,
Anthony J. Topazi
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mississippi Power
(PS:)
Thanks also for your and your employees’ generosity in contributing to the
Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.
September 15, 2005
Dear Mr. Henkels:
I had to write and Thank You for the crews and equipment you sent to
Mississippi to help restore the power after Hurricane Katrina. Without them
we would probably still be waiting for power to be turned back on, since we
had so many lines down and so much debris on the lines, and as we live in a
very small town, off the beaten path.
The few men with your crew that we spoke with were from Chicago,
Illinois. They worked very diligently, for long hours, living only on the
food, water and ice that was provided through FEMA. They also had to bear
the heat and mosquitoes they are not used to. I have to say that after ten
days without power, it really made us appreciate them and their sacrifice. I
know they were well paid, as they should be, but they really went above and
beyond the call of duty, leaving their families to come and help us in our
hour of need. Thank you so much for being there and being so helpful! We
really appreciate it!
Kind Regards,
Mrs. Tommy H.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
PO Box 502
Richton, Mississippi 39476
September 8, 2005
To Our New Friends,
Thank you for coming to our rescue in our time of great need. Please know we
appreciate your tireless efforts in restoring power to our town. We know
that we were blessed when Henkels & McCoy was assigned to our community. You
have been patient, understanding and kind, as well as a blessing to us. As
you move on to another area of need, just remember that we will never forget
you and what you did for us. Please know, too, that we will pray for you and
your safety, well-being, good health and for your families. We hope our
paths will cross again in friendship, not disaster.
GOD BLESS YOU! And WE LOVE YOU!
Richton First Baptist Church and Good Hope Baptist Church and a grateful
community
Thank you Henkels & McCoy
Henkels & McCoy rolled into our town | When the citizens of Richton were
very down.This group of workers went to work | Their duties and
responsibilities they did not shirk.
They worked day and night for many an hour | To see that we were restored
our power.
As lights came on, we shouted for joy | Thank you! Thank you! Henkels &
McCoy.
I want to start with – I had never
heard of Henkels & McCoy before Sunday, September 25, 2005.
I still do not know that much about the company; however,
I know this: I witnessed a convoy – of which seemed like hundreds of utility
and equipment trucks – going west on Interstate 40 in Tennessee (I know you
must have been heading to do hurricane relief and repair) on Sunday,
September 25, 2005. It was an awesome display of the American Spirit! I
actually live in Texas – nowhere near the coast – but have friends that have
been affected by Katrina, and now Rita. The company vehicles I saw were like
a band of angels – the government showed what a mess they can make with
bureaucracy and red tape but to see a convoy with the magnitude that I saw
gave my daughter and me chill bumps of excitement. We saw trucks from
Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois – it was so neat. Thanks for providing the
manpower and equipment to get our country back on its feet. Just wanted you
to know, we noticed you, and wanted to say Thank You.
DiAnn T. and daughter, RayAnn
September 15, 2005
Henkels & McCoy, Inc
1321 N. Plymouth Street
Allentown, PA 18109
Dear Mr. Cardell:
My husband and I live in Crystal Springs, Mississippi and we were recent
victims of Hurricane Katrina. This letter is written with the intent of
thanking your employees for the hard work in getting our electricity on and
the KINDNESS they showed me during this difficult and stressing time.
These men were not only kind but also very professional. I recall one of the
gentlemen was missing his daughter's birthday in order to help us in our
time of need. I was attempting to clean out my refrigerator as they were
working on my street, and it was these fine men who offered me the cold
bottle of water because I had none. I said, "I can't take your water, ya'll
are the ones working and are hot and tired," but they never once complained
about it. It was a welcome relief in the hot humidity of Mississippi.
I would like to give you the names of these men, and I know there were many
more, but these are the ones I met: Martin Parada, Jim Cowfer, Jim
Gusler, Martin Wright and Alan Kwiatkowski. These men, and
many more, deserve a big applause. May God Bless you and your company
as ya'll work hard to help others in difficult and stressful times. In
closing, again my husband and I would like to thank them from the bottom of
our hearts for being there in our time of need.
Sincerely,
Martha T.
Crystal Springs, Mississippi
I want to thank you for sending workers to the Crystal Springs,
Mississippi area after Katrina hit. We are truly thankful for the workers.
You will never know how happy we were to see them. I know the people of
Pennsylvania are special because my mother was from Philly. She would be so
happy to know that they came to our aid. I guess that she sent you to us
because she passed away the day of the storm —she
had been sick for a while, but she was not one of the deaths due to the
storm. Again, thank you so very much. Please tell the workers "thanks." I
know that it was hard for them to leave their families and come so far away
to help us. Thanks a million times over !!!!!!
Marie L.
Crystal Springs, Ms
Henkels & McCoy Employees:
We had the great experience of meeting some of your workers during the
recent hurricane that devastated the Gulf Coast. They were extremely
efficient, understanding and kind to the people of our area. We realize that
they were working under extreme and overwhelming conditions: being away from
their families and extremely long hours. The aid they gave our area is
greatly appreciated.
Sincere thanks,
Mr. & Mrs. J. K.
Lucedale, MS 39452
Thank you so much for your time and effort. We truly appreciate you and
all the gifts you’ve provided. You’ll never know how many lives you’ve
blessed by your generosity.
God Bless.
Anna B.
11 Corinthians 9: 6-7 (Giving)
Isaiah 40: 28-31 (Weariness)
Ephesians 3: 14-19 (My Prayer)
Dear Mr. Schoff:
... I am President of the
Alabama Booster Club of Bridgeport, Pa. The booster club annually attends a
University of Alabama football game in Tuscaloosa. This year we attended the
Alabama-Florida game on October 1. We arrived in Birmingham on Thursday and
drove to Tuscaloosa, home of the University of Alabama. While driving on
Interstate 59, we passed a convoy of vehicles owned by Henkels & McCoy
heading to the Gulf Coast to assist the Hurricane Katrina victims. All the
booster club members were so proud to see vehicles from Blue Bell, Pa. --
1,000 miles from home -- on their way to help people who were devastated
from the worst disaster the U.S. has ever experienced. We salute all Henkels
& McCoy employees and congratulate you on your strong will to help others.
The Alabama Booster Club is extremely proud of their neighbor, Henkels &
McCoy.
John N.
King of Prussia, Pa.
"Thank You" – two little words too small to express gratitude at the
magnitude it is felt. I am sure that the "mess" you’ve found here pushes
Mississippi even further down the list in your minds – but really – when all
is working well, it’s a great place, with genuine hospitality, wonderful
food, and a lot of nice people. Thank you for leaving your homes, your
families, and probably a gentler climate to come to Beaumont and battle the
mosquitoes, gnats, and humidity to bring us power. Because of your quick
work, you saved five freezers of food, just in my family alone. Please share
this note of gratefulness with your boss, crew members, co-workers and
families. I can’t ever pay you back. I regret that I don’t know your names
or families to tell each of you personally what your dedication, concern,
and hard work means to me and my family. Just as God has blessed us, we pray
for His blessings on you and those you love.
Most sincerely,
Reesa and Richard P.
9-29-05
Dear Friends,
It has been exactly one month today that "Katrina" stormed through our
beloved little town of Richton and left us in the dark and with devastation.
We continue to thank your fine organization for the prompt and efficient
service you rendered. We feel that we made many new friends. Our town was
scheduled to celebrate our 100th birthday on October 14, 2005; however, we
have had to reschedule it for March, 2006. We have placed a brick honoring
Henkels & McCoy in our town square legacy walk.
Thanks again,
Colaine M.
Richton, Miss.
To whom it may concern:
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, our small community of Leakesville,
in Greene County, Mississippi awoke to
the timely arrival of the white and yellow trucks and personnel of Henkels &
McCoy. As New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast made headline after
headline, we felt isolated and forgotten. Ice arrived on Wednesday; your
personnel soon thereafter. We surely were glad to see them!
Where am I going with this? The family generator was
being heavily used by my mother, brother and his wife, and his mother-in-law
to keep their deep freezers cold. The availability of gas to fuel it was
limited. I decided to let my freezer thaw and to cook its contents to feed
whomever could be found to eat. Contacting our church family was impossible
because of the disruption of phone service and scarcity of gas. I couldn’t
feed them – who needed a GOOD hot meal? Saturday, September 3, I flagged
down (more like tracked down – they were all over the place working) one of
the crew chiefs and invited your linemen (and one linewoman) into our old
Victorian home for supper. With some apprehension they entered our home that
evening, kindly stopping to remove their boots before they came in. They
didn’t have to, our home has wood flooring throughout, but I was touched by
their consideration. Everyone ate to their satisfaction, chasing hot tasty
food with many gallons of sweet Southern tea. We visited briefly, sharing
snippets of life, enduring the heat, and enjoying the opportunity. A scant
hour after arriving, they were gone… Sunday, September 4, my family and I
were able to cook the last of the contents of our freezer and feed your
burly, entertaining employees again. Nothing, to my great relief, was
spoiled or wasted from our freezer.
So many times you must, with all the different services
you provide, hear nothing but negative reports on your personnel. I’m
writing to let you know that from the tattooed-bleached-Mohawked-multi-pierced
kid to the almost-retirement-aged grandpa, they represented Henkels & McCoy
in the most positive light possible… All of them, all of them were amiable,
sociable, mannered… I could go on and on.
Thank you for responding to the call from the Deep
South and thank you for hiring such great people. I hope we won’t need your
corporation’s services again, but if it means anything, I’d have you send
the same folks to be part of our home and community anytime!
Sincerely,
Mary H.
Leakesville, Mississippi
Dear Mr. Cardell,
My name is Linda --- and I live in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, about 30 miles
south of Jackson. Although we live 2 ½ to 3 hours from the Mississippi Gulf
Coast and New Orleans, we received considerable wind damage. Obviously, we
lost power. On Day Four, the trucks of Henkels & McCoy rolled into our
neighborhood. I can not tell you how thrilled we were to see them!! The crew
worked tirelessly all day in the miserable Mississippi heat and humidity.
The men were not only extremely hard workers, but worked with such a
wonderful attitude. They were all so friendly, caring and polite. I visited
with two young men in particular (Brad Nadzom and Mike Moskel). Late
afternoon, the crew was called off to attend a safety meeting due to a
death. Brad and Mike personally came up my driveway to explain why they were
leaving. I certainly did not expect them to return until the next day, but
amazingly they came back that night. They were working so hard to restore
our power and stayed until they finished, late into the night. You have no
idea what having power back that night meant to the entire neighborhood. I
talked to the foreman (Ray Slothom) and asked for a list of their names. Mr.
Slothom is such a great guy, as they all are. Words can not begin to
describe what a fabulous crew they are. We were so fortunate to have them
here. The workers included: Ray Slothom (foreman), Tim Myers, Brad Nadzom,
Lance Rauis, Jason Yoder, Doug Bush, Mike Moskel, and Mike Callare. Please
extend my sincere thanks to them. I would certainly give them my highest
recommendation to anyone. We appreciate them more than you can imagine.
Sincerely,
Linda W.
Hazlehurst, Mississippi
November 9, 2005
To Whom It May Concern:
I would like to extend my thanks to your employees who have been working in
Boca Raton, Florida restoring our power after Hurricane Wilma. My family and
I appreciate their dedication, hard work and helpfulness during a stressful
time. We were without power for twelve days and once they got to us they got
us back up and running without delay. Once again, we appreciate the
sacrifices they make, their skill and commitment.
Sincerely,
Linda W.
Boca Raton, Florida
Dear Sirs:
I just wanted to write and tell you how much I appreciate what you are doing
for us in the wake of Katrina. I had to travel I-55 South to our State
capital in Jackson, Mississippi yesterday. As I was entering I-55 South, I
saw the most wonderful sight… a very long convoy of your company's employees
and equipment headed to our coast. I can't tell you in words how much it
means to see people from all over our country coming to our rescue. People
have been so kind and generous. These employees and your company and others
like you are a godsend. I would like to personally thank all of you for
giving so unselfishly of your time and resources in order to restore some
semblance of order in our state. Mississippi has always been known as one of
the poorest states in our country, but as a native and lifelong resident of
Mississippi, right now I would have to say we are one of the richest states
in our great country. We are so fortunate to have so many committed and
caring people.
I live about 250 miles inland from our coast, and
Katrina was still a Category 1 when it hit us. I don't think we have ever
had a storm still classified as a hurricane that struck that far inland. I
cannot even begin to imagine what your employees are going to be up against
down there, but I do know that the devastation is horrendous. It takes brave
and strong people to come in and literally completely rebuild an electric
power system.
Again, I just want to say "Thank You." It doesn't sound
like much, but then again there are no other words to describe what our
feelings are other than "Thanks." May God Bless You now and always, and I
pray that your employees will return safe and sound to their families.
Valerie P.
Mississippi Department of Agriculture & Commerce
Administrative Assistant
Bureau of Plant Industry
MSU MS
39762
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Former Gulf Coast luxury home stands in mute testimony to Katrina's
awesome destructive power.
Cards, note and letters began trickling into H&M Corporate headquarters
soon after our crews arrived.
Steel skeleton and a sign are all that remained of this seaside family
restaurant.
People were encouraged to write as their lives got some semblance of order
again.
Some ocean front properties were completely wrecked.
"Thank You -- two little words too small to express gratitude", this note
begins...
... while other signs expressed victims' frustrations and their worst
personal fears.
Most people that wrote us remained positive about the future.
Too often these painted code markings translated as doom for people's
property.
Dear Mr. Cardell, My name is Linda and I live in Hazlehurst Mississippi,
about 30 miles south of Jackson...
Beaufort, Mississippi took a terrible beating.
In scene after scene, reminiscent of combat zones, people flew the flag to
show solidarity.
Do Not Enter.
A collapsed home in Beaufort, Mississippi.
Truckin, down to New Orleans. H&M trucks stream south while most other
vehicles head northward, to safety.
Down at halftime, but not out. Humor helps put things in perspective when
most things fail.
Garden statues take on new meaning, marking property lines and encouraging
neighbors.
Our crews slept in their vehicles part of the time during the early days
of their deployment.
Storms caused tree branches to pull down power and phone lines.
Wind and surge water-damaged buildings dotted coastal areas in all too
familiar scenes.
A broken pole, with transformer on the ground.
Uprooted trees, uprooted lives.
H&M lineman in bucket working to remove tree branches and debris.
Unfortunately, destruction on this scale was the norm, rather than the
unusual in areas closest to the coast.
Among this broken greenery, a H&M lineman helps restore service to storm
victims.
H&M pickup truck (far left) passes a medial strip containing overturned
vehicles and puddled storm waters.
Bucket trucks perform a sort of intricate aerial ballet, moving men and
equipment around poles.
H&M crews setting up to repair power lines.
Katrina tossed cars into medial strips along a transmission row.
A major effort is required to remove damaged equipment and to set new power
lines and poles.
A devastated police station in Pass Christian, Mississippi.
Buckled railroad tracks caught passing debris and detritus borne by
flood waters or winds.
Roadsides and clearings were transformed into junkyards by nature's big
push.
A stairway to nowhere. These heart-breaking scenes were unfortunately, a
common sight nearly everywhere.
Home made banners and signs were hastily constructed and hung from porches
and yards of private homes.
Sign of the times. Weary crews' spirits were buoyed by such notes of
encouragement from grateful residents and storm victims.
H&M lineman secures a de-energized power conductor to a new pole.
H&M employees passed convoys of military vehicles bearing aid to victims in Mississippi.
Bridge out: a causeway smashed by tide surges and wind whipped waves.
Detail of smashed causeway.
H&M crew using digger derricks to temporarily support regulator bank.
H&M workers hand-dig to permanently support poles.
H&M lineman gets ready to install new conductor.
Sun-up meant get up, ramp up, and start up again. Every crew member we spoke
to said they would be proud to do it again.
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