FEMA Expands CH2M Hill Role in Temporary Housing Mission

March 3, 2006, BILOXI , Miss. -- The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced an expansion in the geographic area of services provided by CH2M Hill through their existing contract with FEMA for hauling and installing temporary housing to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Since October 2005, CH2M Hill has been hauling and installing temporary housing throughout the northern and central Mississippi counties and has assumed a larger role by operating in the six lower counties previously serviced by Bechtel National Corporation.

“We understand the importance of meeting the needs of displaced Mississippi families and we will continue to meet those needs by utilizing various resources,” said Nick Russo, federal coordinating officer for the disaster recovery effort in Mississippi . “The companies may have changed but FEMA’s commitment to Mississippi has not.”

CH2M Hill and Bechtel National Corporation were the two companies tasked by FEMA with the mission of housing thousands of Mississippi families left homeless by Hurricane Katrina. Since the first emergency housing unit was installed Sept. 11, 2005, CH2M Hill and Bechtel have assisted in housing nearly 37,000 displaced families throughout Mississippi .

As the work continues for housing services in Mississippi , Bechtel – who has completed the hauling and installing task order issued against their contract with FEMA – will now continue to provide maintenance and deactivation services for travel trailers and mobile homes, as CH2M Hill takes on the hauling and installing function in six southern Mississippi counties. Bechtel will also build new mobile home group sites in the six southern counties, helping FEMA to ensure that eligible, displaced residents will receive direct housing assistance.

“Our company is proud to have the opportunity to help residents in Mississippi ,” said Robert Griffin, Global Program Manager for CH2M Hill. “We recognize Mississippians have endured much and we look forward to continuing the housing and maintenance mission we’ve already successfully begun.”

“Bechtel is proud to be a part of FEMA’s historic effort to house the victims of Hurricane Katrina,” said Paul Divjak, Bechtel National’s program manager. “We will continue working with the same dedication and commitment to provide maintenance services and additional housing solutions at group sites. For all our installations, our goal remains to ensure occupants have a safe place to live"

Several other contracts will soon be awarded in the Gulf Coast region with a value up to $100 million each. These five-year contracts will be awarded to local, small and small disadvantaged businesses for temporary housing maintenance and deactivation work to support Gulf Coast hurricane recovery. The need for these activities will increase as the need for installation of mobile homes and travel trailers declines.

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Contact Information

Carl Suchocki

Disaster Response & Recovery

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

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