City Grill

Jerry Arnold 
Safety Director
Woodward Design+Build 

Hurricane safety is top of mind for many South Louisianans at the moment, according to Arnold.

“Ida did massive damage to the city and surrounding area last year, and our utilities company has warned us that power could be out for up to three weeks if a strong storm hits again,” he says, citing a restoration update from Entergy given to the Kenner City Council on July 22. “As we enter what is historically the most active part of hurricane season, I’m monitoring the NOAA reports for tropical systems.”

Arnold notes that Woodward will activate its hurricane plan when a storm enters the Gulf.

“If it looks like New Orleans will see any effects of a storm, we communicate to all field teams that we need to secure our jobsites. If any debris is left unsecured, it could become a flying projectile during high winds,” he says. “After Ida, you saw the community coming together in a big way. We dedicated construction resources to make emergency repairs at our employees’ homes. This year, in case we get another major storm, we’ve invested in new equipment to clear trees and make roadways accessible.”