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Tulane University contracted with Belfor shortly after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. Since September 9, hundreds of Belfor workers have been working to repair campus, specifically:
- Removing water from buildings primarily between Freret and Willow Streets
- Protecting undamaged areas from humidity
- Recovering documents from libraries
- Restoring power to campus
- Securing the campus and student, faculty and staff belongings
- Removing debris and trees
- Repairing buildings damaged by the storm
- Reconstructing interior areas
Mitchell Parks is
in charge of the Tulane University response team and recently narrated
a tour of Belfor’s work on campus. He is in charge of the more than
400 Belfor employees working to have Tulane’s campuses totally restored
- furnishings and all - by December 31, 2005.
Mitchell
Parks introduces Belfor (wmv)
The residence halls located on the back half of Tulane’s uptown
campus between Freret and Claiborne sustained water damage on the first
floors only. Belfor worked to dry the wet areas and used dehumidifiers
to pump cool air into the buildings to contain moisture from spreading
to upper floors. Because the storm knocked out power to the university,
generators were installed and remain on campus today. Belfor is following
a formal protocol for moisture abatement developed by industrial hygienists
that requires verification that all mold and mildew has been removed before
replacement of sheetrock and carpet can begin. Tulane University has had
its own standards to prevent mold and moisture in its buildings since
before the storm. Belfor is required to adhere to those rigorous standards
to ensure that all buildings are safe.
Belfor at work inside the Mayer residences (wmv)
The basement of the Howard Tilton Memorial Library was flooded with eight
feet of water and the future of the university’s Government Documents
collection was in doubt. Belfor was able to drain the water and retrieve
12,000 boxes of critical documents. They prepared these precious items
for shipment to their facility in Fort Worth, Texas where they will freeze
dry the documents, removing the water and any mold content, thereby restoring
them safely and completely.
Belfor pumped dehumidifying air into the library to prevent further damage
and to contain the water damage to the basement. They were successful.
The first floor and all upper floors have been tested and contain no mold
spores whatsoever.
Restoration of Howard Tilton Memorial Library (wmv)
More footage:
Master
schedule for uptown campus includes 62 buildings (wmv)
Environmental
engineer explains work in Irby Hall (wmv)
Restoring
power to Paterson House (wmv)
Putting
finishing touches on Student Health Center (wmv)
Belfor is on schedule to completely finish its work by December 31, 2005.
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