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NACA News is an electronic newsletter published periodically to communicate the activities and initiatives of the North American Concrete Alliance.

NACA members respond to Gulf Coast hurricanes

November 10, 2005

REBUILDING AND RECOVERY

Bush wants funds shifted to hurricane rebuilding

President Bush has asked Congress to transfer $17.1 billion of unspent FEMA relief aid to help rebuild the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast. Under the plan, $2.3 billion would go to Federal Highway Administration to rebuild roads and bridges and $1.6 billion would to to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to rebuild levees, improve waterways and restore wetlands. more

New Orleans on slow road to recovery
According to the New York Times there are some signs of normalcy returning to New Orleans but things are far from business as usual. The return of residents needed to boost the ailing economy has been delayed by extensive repairs to rotting houses. more

CODES AND RESEARCH

Foundation funds Gulf Coast region infrastructure study

The RMC Research Foundation and Mississippi Concrete Industries Association (MCIA) plan a forensic study to determine the effects of hurricanes, high winds and flooding on various building types and techniques, including an examination of structures along Mississippi's Gulf Coast. The Foundation announced funding approval for the study last week, noting that it has enlisted MCIA and Mississippi State University's Civil Engineering Department to help in evaluating construction methods and code provisions that might be applied to rebuilding efforts in Hurricane Katrina-devastated areas. more

ASCE testifies before senate on levee failures

Peter G. Nicholson, ASCE levee assessment team leader, testified November 2 before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. He summarized the ASCE report titled Preliminary Data Report on the Performance of the New Orleans Levee Systems in Hurricane Katrina which was released the same day. The report gives several recommendations including the need to provide erosion resistant flooding and to design levees to resist 500 year flood instead of the current 100-year flood design requirement. The recommendations are favorable to cement and concrete applications for levee construction including soil cement, roller-compacted concrete, and traditional cast-in-place and precast systems. more

Rumsfeld to convene panel to evaluate levees in New Orleans

Secretary of Defense, Donald H. Rumsfeld, has directed the Secretary of the Army, Dr. Francis J. Harvey, to convene an independent panel of national experts under the direction of the National Academies to evaluate the performance of hurricane protection systems in New Orleans and the surrounding areas. The National Academies will assemble a multidisciplinary (e.g., engineering, atmospheric sciences, etc.) panel drawn from the public and private sectors and academia. This forensic study is to focus on existing levees and/or floodwalls that were overtopped, breached, or failed during Hurricane Katrina. more

Gulf Coast residents urged to write state legislators

Concrete industry employees in the Gulf coast region are urged to write their state legislators to support the adoption of statewide building codes. Click here to write your state legislators in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

MEDIA RELATIONS

CNN Report: “It’s time to build higher, it’s time to build stronger”
On November 4, a segment on CNN’s American Morning featured Scott Sundberg, a Pass Christian, Miss., structural engineer. Using Hurricane Camille as a model, Sundberg constructed a concrete beach home specifically designed to withstand hurricanes. The home survived Hurricane Katrina relatively unscathed while neighboring homes were destroyed. During the segment, Sundberg mentioned the Portland Cement Association, specifically highlighting PCA's concrete home program and stressing that concrete homes are not much more expensive than traditional wood frame construction. Additionally, he mentions the fire and termite resistant features of concrete homes. In closing, Sundberg stated ...”It’s time to builder higher, it’s time to build stronger and its time to pay much more attention to the building codes that are already in place, if not actually adopting the Florida state building codes [that are tougher].” Contact Patti Flesher

NACA member fact sheet available

Details of NACA Members involved in the recovery and rebuilding effort in the Gulf coast region are provided in a NACA Member Fact Sheet. Click here to download the fact sheet.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Bill adopting uniform building codes in Louisiana introduced

NACA encourages Louisianans to contact their state legislators as soon as possible to encourage them to vote for House Bill #76, currently under consideration in the special session of the Louisiana Legislature. H.B. 76 would immediately adopt the International Building Code and International Residential Code complete with the latest guidelines for hurricane-resistant construction. Click here to electronically contact your state legislators in support of the bill. Click here to read Bill #76. Click here to read the letter. Contact Kevin Voelte or Robert Sullivan.

Mississippi group joins coalition for statewide building codes

Robert Varner, executive director of Mississippi Concrete Industries Association (MCIA) has joined a coalition committed developing a comprehensive statewide building code. The coalition has members from the Subcontractors Association, Homebuilders Association, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), FEMA, American General Contractors of America (AGC), American Consulting Engineers Council (ACEC), Department of Finance and Administration, American Institute of Architects (AIA). Initiatives of the coalition include adopting the International Code Council (ICC) Family of building codes and establishing a building code review board for the state. Contact Robert Varner

Bush selects coordinator of federal support for Gulf Coast recovery

Donald E. Powell will serve as the Administration's primary point of contact with State and local governments, the private sector, and community leaders on long-term recovery and rebuilding plans for the Gulf Coast. As Federal Coordinator, he will work with Congress and Federal departments and agencies to provide effective, integrated, and fiscally responsible support for Gulf Coast recovery. more

North American Concrete Alliance

Aggregate & Concrete Executives (ACE)
American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA)
American Concrete Pipe Association (ACPipeA)
American Concrete Pumping Association (ACPumpA)
American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC)
Concrete Foundations Association (CFA)
Concrete Homes Council (CHC)

Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI)
Insulating Concrete Form Association (ICFA)

Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI)
National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA)
National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA)
National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA)
Portland Cement Association (PCA)
Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI)
Tilt-Up Concrete Association (TCA)

Questions about NACA News?
Contact: Lionel Lemay, 847-918-7101, LLemay@nrmca.org