[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 32 (Monday, March 21, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
          LONG BEACH SHIPYARD WORKERS HELP EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

                                 ______


                           HON. STEPHEN HORN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 21, 1994

  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, the employees of the Long Beach Naval Shipyard 
are well known for their extraordinary work ethic, their high skill 
level, and their considerable contribution to the Nation's security. 
They should also be recognized for their strong compassion for their 
fellow citizens and their willingness to make significant sacrifices to 
help those in need.
  In the wake of the earthquake centered in Northridge, CA on January 
17, approximately 200 Long Beach Naval Shipyard employees responded to 
a January 21 request for assistance from the Office of Personnel 
Management [OPM]. They volunteered their services at disaster 
assistance centers throughout those areas that had been devastated by 
the earthquake.
  When the OPM call came in, supervisors were immediately contacted, 
and they in turn set in motion a phone tree process to contact their 
employees in order to obtain volunteers. Workers were told that they 
would be taking applications for relief from the earthquake victims. 
They were also told that volunteers would be working approximately 12 
hours a day, 7 days a week, for up to 20 days and that they were to 
report for an orientation session the next day.
  The calls to employees continued late into the night on the 21st and 
then throughout the next morning. The response was overwhelming and 
gratifying. Over 200 shipyard employees volunteered. They attended the 
orientation session on the 22d and the majority began work the next 
day.
  These employees began working in centers in Reseda, Hollywood, Santa 
Clarita, Santa Monica, Northridge, and anywhere else they were needed. 
One group of employees working at the center in Reseda reported taking 
in over 800 applications in one day. Fortunately, many of the Long 
Beach Naval Shipyard volunteers are bilingual, which proved especially 
helpful to many non-English speaking people in some of the hardest hit 
areas.
  Also, because of the variety of skills the Long Beach volunteers 
possess, they were called on to perform many other services. For 
example, when rain was predicted, one group worked late into the night 
putting up tents to provide shelter to many of the thousands left 
homeless by the quake.
  Disasters sometimes have a way of revealing the best in people. The 
volunteers from the Long Beach Naval Shipyard worked very long hours in 
difficult circumstances because they simply wanted to help. There was a 
need and they responded willingly.
  This commitment to help their fellow citizens following the 
earthquake reflects the commitment, dedication, and compassion which is 
personified in all of these talented individuals. The spirit they 
showed in this emergency is the same spirit they have demonstrated in 
their consistent commitment to excellence in their work at the Long 
Beach Naval Shipyard.

  In closing, I would like to include a short article from the January 
25 edition of the San Pedro News-Pilot.

             [From the San Pedro News-Pilot, Jan. 25, 1994]

                     Shipyard Crews Give Quake Aid

       Approximately 200 employees at the Long Beach Naval 
     Shipyard on Terminal Island have volunteered their services 
     to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help displaced 
     victims of the Northridge earthquake.
       The volunteers will remain at various FEMA centers until 
     they no longer are needed.
       The Office of Personnel Management called the shipyard 
     Friday to ask for volunteers; then supervisors and union 
     officials were contacted.
       In turn, they called employees at home. Those who 
     volunteered attended a training session Saturday in Pasadena 
     and began helping Sunday.

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