Rebuilding Industry Grapples with Katrina Fallout By Traci Matt ASSOCIATE EDITOR Even the smallest pockets of the U.S. economy, such as automotive electrical rebuilding, have felt the punch of Hurricane Katrina, which dusted across Florida and later decimated the Gulf Coast at the end of August. Officially the most destructive storm ever to strike the U.S., Katrina’s sustained winds of 145 mph and enormous swath of fury continued to destroy lives and property long after it moved ashore. Brad Raye, general manager of Hammett’s Auto Electric in Biloxi, Miss., fled to Alabama when the evacu- ation order came. Hammett’s is located three blocks from the beach, north of the giant Hard Rock Café guitar which con- sistently made the evening news film loop in the wake of the storm. Raye returned to Biloxi a week later to a shop that had been filled with three feet of water and had its bay doors blown off. He also found their faithful shop dog, Ginger, near death and had to have her put to sleep. Hammett’s loca- tion in Gulfport, Miss. went under five feet of water. “We lost lots of small parts,’ said Raye, “The bottom three shelves were under water and we lost a lot of Transpo regulators and rectifiers. The stuff is piled up now waiting to see what the insurance will do.” Besides structural damage and loss of small parts, Raye said they also suffered the loss of equipment such as shakers and lathes when the motors were sub- merged. Like many other coastal busi- nesses, Raye is hoping to make a claim of wind damage because of the wind- driven tidal surge. Hammett’s didn’t have flood insurance. By mid-September, Raye said his area was getting cleaned up “really quick.” They still had no phone or mail service, but power and water had been restored. His house received minor damage, but one of their employees “lost every- thing” and that helps keep things in per- the paper to Gulf Coast evacuees. Forward address changes to us, if you’ve been affected by the storm, or know someone who has. spective. Even sleeping on the porch for a week in the sweltering heat didn’t discourage him. “T had to stop and realize how lucky I was to have a house to come home to,” he said. “I’m learning a lot about chainsaws.” The closer you get to the beach, the greater the devastation. Many historical homes are completely destroyed, and even Confederate President Jefferson Davis’s home “took a whoppin’.” “Biloxi’s just never going to be the same. But people are coming together and helping each other. Banks are giv- ing you 90 days for mortgage payments and you don’t have to worry about bills. There’s so much food, ice, water, and things like diapers down here.” Raye said one bright spot for Hammett’s is an increase in fleet service and other industrial work for crews involved in the repair and reconstruction of the community. “This is good because we need to get some business to keep busy and keep rolling,” he said. “I haven’t had a pay- check in two weeks.” New Orleans Rebuilder Waits in Texas New Orleans native Wayne Estrade, owner of Diamond Starter & Alternator Shop, just isn’t sure how many more blows he can take and still come out fighting. In 2002, his shop burned down in the middle of the night, he suffers with numerous health conditions, and he was just beginning to get his business back up—three blocks from the Convention Center in downtown New Orleans. He had no replacement insurance. We reached him via cell phone at a hotel in San Antonio, Texas, where he hoped to receive word he could return home “any day.” Half of his relatives have homes under water, but he’s heard his home, located about 10 miles from his shop, sustained only roof damage. “But what you can see from the air and what you see when you open the door is a world of difference,” said Estrade. Estrade said that even after things begin to return to normal, New Orleans rebuilders will face more hardships. One problem he anticipates is the influx of new cars which will replace all the late-model vehicles that went under water. His biggest fear is the rumor he’s heard that WAI will not rebuild its ware- house, which will leave local rebuilders without a quick source of supply. “New Orleans will be just like any small town if WAI doesn’t come back. We can’t wait to get parts shipped,” he said. “I don’t even know if New Orleans is going to have rebuilders anymore.” WAI spokesman Tom Lubrano said that they are “weighing all the options” about whether or not to reopen in New Orleans and are still undecided. The warehouse lost one third of its roof and is still not secure, although they have not experienced any looting. All five employees are safe, although they are “still spread out’ with other evacuees. WAI is currently servicing gulf region customers from the Memphis, Dallas and Atlanta warehouses. They are shipping a lot of heavy-duty parts for emergency response vehicles from Memphis and also servicing a few rebuilders. Relief and Support at All Levels Lubrano said WAI was