PumpBlogs 
Pump Company Provides Flood Relief to Midwestern United States
As our business continues to thrive in an otherwise struggling economy, the impact of our industry’s products and services becomes obvious every time we drink a clean glass of water or fill a car’s tank with fuel.
When we received a press release this morning from Godwin Pumps on its Midwest flood relief efforts, I was truly inspired. It is nice to see the human element of our business . . . particularly in the wake of a natural disaster where pumps can provide necessities like clean water and running toilets—things those of us who live in the U.S. so often take for granted.
Read more in the August issue of Pumps & Systems on how Godwin worked with its distributors to deploy 474 pumps to seven Midwestern states, an effort than began within four hours of a call from the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA).
I have no doubt there are many other companies and people in our industry who have aided in the Midwest Flood relief efforts. We would like to hear your stories.
June 26th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Thanks for recognizing some of the good that comes from this industry. I’m not familiar with Godwin’s effort. Could you post the press release, as well?
Again, thank you for the information.
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:10 pm
I am happy to share the details of this effort:
Godwin Pumps® Active in Midwest Flood Relief
(BRIDGEPORT, NJ — June 25, 2008) Within four hours of a Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) call on Sunday, June 8, Godwin’s Chicago (IL) Branch Manager, Jeff Pass, began deploying 28 flagship Godwin Dri-Prime® six-inch and eight-inch pumps to Iowa’s FEMA headquarters at Camp Dodge in Johnston. On June 9, Godwin’s Bridgeport (NJ) headquarters mobilized 48 six-inch pumps to Camp Dodge. On June 10, Godwin sent an additional 20 six- and eight-inch pumps from Bridgeport to FEMA in Iowa. At current, Godwin’s Chicago (IL) Branch has helped to supply 174 pumps to locations including the Iowa Department of Transportation in Oakdale (43 six- and eight-inch pumps), the city of Rock Island (IL) (nine four- to twelve-inch pumps) and the Army Corps of Engineers in Terre Haute (IN) (eight eight-inch pumps and one light tower). These efforts have been supported by Godwin’s branch locations including Houston (TX), Buffalo (NY), Atlanta (GA), Los Angeles (CA), Tampa (FL), and its multiple branches in Virginia and the Carolinas that have combined to ship 20 tractor trailer loads of pumps and related equipment to various locations throughout the Midwest.
Godwin Pumps’ Midwest Corporate Manager, Bob Spinner said, “These floodwaters are farther-reaching than you can grasp from watching news segments. Having seen it first-hand, we are well-aware that the flooding won’t stop while we load trucks. We moved as many pumps as we could, as fast as we possibly could. The amount of pumps that we were able to mobilize is truly impressive.”
In addition to the pumps deploying directly from Godwin branch locations, Godwin distributors throughout the Midwest including Central Service & Supply, Inc., Heartland Pump Rental & Sales, Inc., Lee Mathews Equipment, Inc. and Lincoln Contractors Supply, Inc. have responded to flood relief efforts. Roughly 300 units have deployed to locations throughout Wisconsin, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma.
Said Godwin president, John Paz, “We are proud of the way our branches and distributors have responded to these floods. They have been tireless in identifying the needs of the people calling upon them – whenever they call upon them – and in quickly mobilizing the equipment that will provide relief. It’s been a true team effort – one that you can only step back and appreciate once the threat is over. Our pumps and people will remain on the scene until the waters recede.”
Godwin and its distributors have deployed a variety of equipment including Godwin’s Sub-Prime® electric submersible pumps for situations including sump dewatering; Heidra® hydraulic submersibles for situations including underground parking garage dewatering; Godwin Power generators; Godwin Lights light towers; and hose, pipe, and fittings to complete the pumping solutions needed to divert flow.
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
We continue to receive information about the flood relief efforts in the Midwest. Please continue to send us news about philanthropic efforts toward the Midwest floods as well as news regarding relief efforts in the wake of the recent hurricanes.
ITT Corporation supported the flood relief efforts in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with a $20,000 donation to The Cedar Rapids Community Foundation (GCRCF). The donation targeted the Flood 2008 Fund to assist the community in recovering and rebuilding following the devastating June flood.
“Beyond ITT’s $20,000 cash donation to the GCRCF, our Goulds Pumps®, Flygt® and Bell & Gossett® distributors have provided products and volunteers to support community efforts during and after the devastating flooding,” said Ken Napolitano, President of ITT’s Industrial Process business. “Our mutual objective is to address the needs of our affected customers, their employees and families, as well as supporting the broader community needs focused on relief and rebuilding.”
ITT and its distributors, Central States Group / CPI Sales and Products Inc., service the flood-affected area with pumps for industrial, commercial, and residential water applications.
“We certainly appreciate ITT’s generous gift to support our community as we recover and rebuild from the historic June flood,” said Bud Synhorst, vice president of resource development at The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. “ITT and numerous companies from around the country have made significant contributions to the flood relief are having a direct impact on individuals, families and businesses that desperately need help.”