EDS Aids Clients, Victims Amid U.S. Flooding
11 Aug 2008
Rising floodwaters wreaked havoc across the Midwestern United States in June, but EDS employees braved the storm to keep both clients and victims connected throughout the crisis.
Thousands of people were forced from their homes as rivers overflowed their banks, leaving a swath of destruction stretching about 325 miles from Dubuque, Iowa, to St. Louis, Mo. More than two dozen counties were declared federal disaster areas.
While EDS volunteers in Texas manned call centers for the American Red Cross, Iowa-based employees dodged muddy debris and downed power lines to make their way to their job posts – even as the treacherous waters were threatening their own homes.
Providing Around-the-Clock Support for EDS Clients
“There's a lot of positive here,” said Steve Carr, an EDS Information Management supervisor. “We never lost servers or communications, and no one was injured.”
Carr was among the EDS employees tasked with protecting critical operations at the Duane Arnold Energy Center, a nuclear power plant located on the banks of the Cedar River near Palo, Iowa. Florida Power and Light (FPL), an EDS client, owns a majority interest in the nuclear facility, and the site is regularly assisted by a local EDS team and members of EDS' Florida Power and Light team from Juno Beach, Fla.
“During the flooding, there were a lot of telecommunication issues,” said Denise Murphy, an EDS applications delivery executive. “The site is supported by a small telephone company in Palo, which was under water. Our site brought in people from Florida and the National Guard to reroute communications for FPL.”
Carr worked around the clock to coordinate EDS crisis activities at the nuclear site. He worked with commercial satellite vendors and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to keep the plant connected with key interests outside of the flood zone.
“It was important to maintain communications capabilities so we could stay in contact with the Florida sites and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,” he said. “We made sure we had the right resources on the ground and the appropriate focus from the outside.”
Despite the nearby flooding, the nuclear plant escaped damage and safely remained operational at 100 percent power.
Meanwhile, in Des Moines, Iowa, about 1,200 employees kept EDS' local facility running despite a levee breach in the area, assuring no disruptions for the multiple clients who entrust their business functions to that site.
EDS Extends Help To Victims of Devastating Floods
EDS employees near and far were quick to assist victims of the devastating floods.
“There's been a tremendous outpouring of help, and we appreciate it,” said Jeff Ruiter, EDS director of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Service Delivery – Central Hub. “The local Des Moines team immediately set up a clothing and food drive, as well as volunteered to help out their teammates and others in need. It has been a great environment through the entire time.
“One of our hub sister sites, Tulsa, Oklahoma, went through a similar situation with the ice storms they incurred last winter,” he said. “They were in communication with us on an ongoing basis and also immediately sent emergency supplies to help us out.”
Employees with ExcellerateHRO in Des Moines held a fund-raiser for on-site flood relief. They also installed collection bins to gather food and clothing for individuals who were affected by the flooding.
Katie Lebaron, who works for EDS People Care in Des Moines, traveled to Cedar Rapids to assist.
“I helped clean up a house that had been damaged by the flood,” Lebaron said. “I pulled down plaster and lathing from the interior walls and bleached most of the walls and surfaces in the house to try to prevent mold from growing. It was a lot of work, but I'm very glad I went. It was a nice feeling to be able to help out.”
EDS employees helped in other ways as well. Several assisted at the American Red Cross (ARC) Dallas [Texas] Area Chapter call center, taking calls from flooding victims. ARC activates its Ready When the Time Comes (RWTC) Response Center Network based on need in an emergency. EDS was recently honored as RWTC Partner of the Year
Luis Santana, an EDS information specialist in Business Exchange Services in Plano, Texas, said it was his third time to help at an ARC call center.
“I enjoy volunteering and the satisfaction of helping and giving back to the community,” he said. “When you assist somebody in an emergency, it is not about the thanks you receive afterward. It's about the feeling that you yourself get in knowing that you were able to help out.”
Santana averages eight calls per four-hour shift, taking time to thoroughly understand callers' emergencies so that they may receive the most complete assistance for housing, food and other needs.
EDS' Employees Making A Difference
Michael Fuhrman, an advanced project manager with EDS Global Critical Situations, also assisted ARC's Midwest flood cause by preparing aid trucks in Dallas. He was among several EDS employees honored with Presidential Awards from ARC for their efforts.
“These are devastating floods, and they've caused a lot of loss of property and a disruption in people's lives,” Fuhrman said. “That's where volunteers make a huge difference. They can bring in stability, warmth and love to make sure these folks are getting their basic needs met – food, shelter and clothing.”
Fuhrman said he learned the importance of helping others as a child, and he continues to volunteer because he wants to be a good role model for his teen-age son.
“I lived around the world as a military brat. I have seen typhoons and floods, and I've always been there, participating,” he said. “Volunteering is just something you do, as far as I'm concerned. The rewards are phenomenal because you know you're making a difference in somebody else's life.”