Construction companies, which have felt severe job cuts in this economic downturn are seeing new possibilities to use their skills, equipment, and know-how.
Station Fire Results in Mudslides
During the recent mudflows in La Canada Flintridge, after the Station Fire wiped the vegetation off of 3/4 of the Angeles National Forest, private companies have been contracted to help empty the debris basins and haul runoff mud from the hillsides and roads to safer areas, where they won’t endanger homes.
Construction Companies Become Rehabilitation Companies
The same companies which may have been vilified during the periods of Mac Mansion-building and mass overbuilding on farm and pristine land have become heroes to many now in disaster zones. Ironically, many of these same over-built places are now disaster sites, due to many overly zealous builders’ oversights of natural history, ignoring ancient flood plains and erosion patterns.
But the same human ingenuity that over-built can now be used in the most productive way possible for our time.
After the La Canada Flood of February 6, 2010, the large tractors and dump trucks that hauled away the mud that filled the garages, kitchens, and bedrooms of so many homes were a welcome sight to everyone.
Repair and renewal is in the air. Ralph Nazarian, a Chief Mechanic from Cobalt Construction Company overseeing the mudflow removal of the Harter Lane Debris Basin stated that after this job was completed he was asked to work for his company on the recovery in Haiti.
Possibilities for Our Infrastructure
What possibilities there are for the future, if this skilled force could be put to work in rebuilding our seriously dilapidated infrastructure? If only our mechanism of building and productivity could shift to one of repair, rebuild and maintain.
Photographs
Below are photographs of the Debris Basin on Harter Lane after the flood and mudslides came after an unexpectedly heavy storm on February 6, 2010.
In the first photo is the top of the drain, which was found after enough mud was removed. The drainpipe then had to be removed and cleared of debris. At the center of the picture, above the drain grate, some remaining sticks and debris can be seen clogging the seep gaps which were created to allow water to escape slowly from the debris basin.
The second photo shows the basin as it appears when approaching from below on Harter Lane. During the mud removal, portable lights were used so that work could proceed throughout the night. On the left, below the light is a drain filter which stood in the canyon to separate water from debris, and drain the water into a canyon below. But, there was too much debris from the fire, and the filter and drain were quickly clogged.
Yana Marshall - Yana Ungermann-Marshall is a writer, artist and Information Professional currently working at Altadena Public Library as a Reference ...
