President’s Message: October 2024

ACEC Florida President Andy Lauzier, PE

To the ACEC Florida Community,

As I am sitting at home composing my President’s message for October 2024, it is hard to believe some of the things that have transpired in the last 30 days.  As everyone knows, Florida has endured two significant and unique Hurricanes in the last 3 1/2 weeks.  Hurricane Helene was a monster storm when it made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend and then continued its devastation over much of the Southeast.  The death toll from Helene exceeded 225 souls, and the impact will be felt throughout the Southeast for many months and even years to come.  Most of the fatalities occurred in North Carolina, not somewhere we think of being subject to hurricane impacts.

Then, on Wednesday, October 9th, Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, FL, around 8:30 PM as a Category 3 storm. Again, this proved to be a deadly event, with many of the fatalities resulting from tornadoes that spawned as far away as 125 miles east of the eye of the storm.

So, some of my takeaways from these events are:

  • We live in a state and country that come together in times of crisis. The number of resources (Federal, State, Private, etc.) that flowed into Florida (and beyond) to assist after both storms is truly amazing.
  • Our government officials, agencies, first responders, and so many others are always there to provide the support our communities need. Sometimes, we forget that the workers who clear debris, restore power and water, etc., may also be impacted by the storms, but they always show up to help citizens.
  • Engineers also play a part in the recovery. Many, like our own Executive Director Allen Douglas (who is a Red Cross volunteer), play a crucial role in the recovery stages. This can come in many forms, such as volunteer organizations, providing emergency bridge and roadway inspections and repairs, helping utilities recover and restore services, and so much more.
  • As we work with our clients and communities to rebuild, we must consider resiliency and how we can help build better and stronger. While extreme weather events will always have impacts, learning how to protect against them helps make our communities safer and more resilient.

I know that many of you who receive this message have likely been impacted directly or indirectly by these storms. Please know that ACEC member firms and individuals are here to help. We would encourage everyone to first be safe and, if possible, offer a helping hand to a neighbor, friend, or colleague.

If you are aware of individuals, companies, or organizations that are truly making a difference in the recovery and rebuilding effort, please feel free to email me so we can highlight them in future updates.

Thank you all for your continued service to our profession. Stay safe. I hope to see many of you at the ACEC Fall Conference in New Orleans, LA, from October 20th through October 23rd.

Sincerely,

Andre’ (Andy) Lauzier, PE (FL, GA)
Senior Vice President | Transportation Planning and Design Director
HDRinc.com | andy.lauzier@hdrinc.com

Published On: October 15th, 2024

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