THE WINDS OF AUGUST

To paraphrase T.S. Eliot, August is the cruelest month, that is, when it comes to hurricanes.  Just take a look at some of the more damaging hurricanes in the past 50 years:

• Hurricane Katrina – August 29, 2005
• Hurricane Andrew – August 24, 1992
• Hurricane Camille – August 17, 1969

So as Tropical Storm Isaac spins toward the Gulf of Mexico, we take it seriously.  Not only because it’s August, but because Gulf Coast dwellers know that even  “small” hurricanes can cause devastating damage and loss of property and lives. 

Those who live along the coast, in “tornado alleys”, or in any section of the country that experiences severe inclement weather, share one common concern.  We respect Mother Nature and give her a wide berth

At Barnhart Crane, we’ve encountered many weather challenges in the course of completing our projects.  For example:

• Miserable weather and poor conditions did not thwart Barnhart Crane and Rigging’s success when installing a massive 500-ton transformer at a Kansas power plant.
• For a nuclear power customer in Illinois, Barnhart had to remove and replace three nuclear feedwater heaters in extremely frigid weather, as the temperatures dropped to -22°, and the wind chill measured in at -44°.
• A tight schedule and very wet and extremely cold weather posed a challenge on a North Carolina power plant job which included the hauling, lifting, and setting of steam equipment.
• Despite the unsteady weather conditions and winds approaching 25 mph, Barnhart Crane successfully erected seven wind turbines for a Tree Wind Farm in Minnesota.

However, we’ve never let weather compromise our commitment to safety and have delayed jobs when it was not safe to continue.  And as the most dangerous stretch of hurricane season approaches, we urge everyone along the coast to play it safe as well.