Tuesday, October 23, 2007
THE CLEAN-UP IN INDIANA AFTER THE TORNADO
RV Business
Monday, October 22, 2007
In the wake of last Thursday’s F-3 tornado that tore through Nappanee, Ind., around 10:30 p.m., recreational vehicle builders Gulf Stream Coach Inc. and Franklin Coach Co. Inc. headed into the work week with plans of getting back to business.
Franklin Coach, a small, family-owned company which operates across U.S. 6 from Gulf Stream on Nappanee's east side, lost its manufacturing facility in the storm. Representatives told RV Business today (Oct. 22) that they hoped to reopen their office at a satellite location by Wednesday and are looking for a temporary factory in the area to resume production as soon as possible.
“That’s the plan so far. We’re in this for the long haul,” said Lori Barnaby, office manager, who was staffing the company’s switchboard this morning at her home in nearby Bremen.
Claude Donati, vice president of sales for Gulf Stream, reported that the company’s eight major manufacturing facilities received “minimal damage,” and that it was looking to start shipping product today. Gulf Stream’s sister company, manufactured housing builder Fairmont Homes, also received some damage.
“Our biggest roadblock has been infrastructure,” Donati told RV Business this morning. “We have heard that we’ll be back on commercial electric in a few hours. The phone lines have been sporadic, but it sounds like they’re making progress there. Also, all the main thoroughfares in town are open again.
“It’s important for us to start communicating with our customers. We want to let people know of our situation and that we’re working through this.”
Donati said that Gulf Stream did lose “three or four supply and support buildings” to the storm, but that the lamination facility was in operation. The company also continued to assess damage on the storage lots and Donati estimated that 100 to 120 units had been damaged.
Barnaby said Franklin Coach co-owners Steve and Rick Abel, whose father, Paul, founded the company in 1945, were meeting with their insurance carrier and bankers this morning to arrange the company’s rebuilding efforts. They also were being aided by Nappanee Mayor Larry Thompson in its search for a new facility.
Only a few finished trailers survived the tornado, said Barnaby, who spent all day Friday and part of Saturday searching the ruins for records and other salvageable items. Some of the company’s 60 employees were on site today cleaning up, she said.
According to Barnaby, the company intends to eventually rebuild on the site, once it is cleared. The company manufactures travel trailers, fifth wheels and park models.
Barnaby also reported that the storm created a bizarre situation at the plant, noting, “The oldest part of the building stood but everything around it didn’t.” Founder Paul Abel’s office and his original drafting table remained intact, “down to the pen, pencil and papers just as they were at the close of business on Thursday,” Barnaby said.
Donati also commented on the capricious nature of the storm. “If the storm went ¼ mile to the south, that would have put it right in path of three of our main facilities,” he said. “We dodged a bullet.”
Monday, October 22, 2007
In the wake of last Thursday’s F-3 tornado that tore through Nappanee, Ind., around 10:30 p.m., recreational vehicle builders Gulf Stream Coach Inc. and Franklin Coach Co. Inc. headed into the work week with plans of getting back to business.
Franklin Coach, a small, family-owned company which operates across U.S. 6 from Gulf Stream on Nappanee's east side, lost its manufacturing facility in the storm. Representatives told RV Business today (Oct. 22) that they hoped to reopen their office at a satellite location by Wednesday and are looking for a temporary factory in the area to resume production as soon as possible.
“That’s the plan so far. We’re in this for the long haul,” said Lori Barnaby, office manager, who was staffing the company’s switchboard this morning at her home in nearby Bremen.
Claude Donati, vice president of sales for Gulf Stream, reported that the company’s eight major manufacturing facilities received “minimal damage,” and that it was looking to start shipping product today. Gulf Stream’s sister company, manufactured housing builder Fairmont Homes, also received some damage.
“Our biggest roadblock has been infrastructure,” Donati told RV Business this morning. “We have heard that we’ll be back on commercial electric in a few hours. The phone lines have been sporadic, but it sounds like they’re making progress there. Also, all the main thoroughfares in town are open again.
“It’s important for us to start communicating with our customers. We want to let people know of our situation and that we’re working through this.”
Donati said that Gulf Stream did lose “three or four supply and support buildings” to the storm, but that the lamination facility was in operation. The company also continued to assess damage on the storage lots and Donati estimated that 100 to 120 units had been damaged.
Barnaby said Franklin Coach co-owners Steve and Rick Abel, whose father, Paul, founded the company in 1945, were meeting with their insurance carrier and bankers this morning to arrange the company’s rebuilding efforts. They also were being aided by Nappanee Mayor Larry Thompson in its search for a new facility.
Only a few finished trailers survived the tornado, said Barnaby, who spent all day Friday and part of Saturday searching the ruins for records and other salvageable items. Some of the company’s 60 employees were on site today cleaning up, she said.
According to Barnaby, the company intends to eventually rebuild on the site, once it is cleared. The company manufactures travel trailers, fifth wheels and park models.
Barnaby also reported that the storm created a bizarre situation at the plant, noting, “The oldest part of the building stood but everything around it didn’t.” Founder Paul Abel’s office and his original drafting table remained intact, “down to the pen, pencil and papers just as they were at the close of business on Thursday,” Barnaby said.
Donati also commented on the capricious nature of the storm. “If the storm went ¼ mile to the south, that would have put it right in path of three of our main facilities,” he said. “We dodged a bullet.”
