Written by: Sean Vissar, Deconstruction and Salvage Program Manager

Entering abandoned, dark, and damaged structures on a daily basis is a highly daunting task, and takes strong commitment and determination. For an entire year, whether in the scorching heat or the bitter cold, Rebuilding Together New Orleans (RTNO) Deconstruction and Salvage Field Crew faces this endeavor everyday. Deconstruction and selective salvage is an incredibly rigorous and labor intensive process that requires extreme mental and physical stamina. For the past year, the members of RTNO’s Deconstruction and Salvage Field Crew have proven their ability to power through the darkest of structures in order to carry out the program’s mission, which is to save, recycle, and reuse architectural and structural building materials from hundreds of blighted homes and buildings left in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

RTNO’s Deconstruction and Salvage Program must, once again, say goodbye to the five Louisiana Delta Service Corps (LDSC) members that worked with the program throughout this past year: Lan Huynh, Zeke Compton, Peter Herrmann, Maggie Cloos, and Dan Grossberg. These members served with the program since September 2010, and did an outstanding job. July 31st signified the end of the second round of LDSC members that RTNO has mentored within the Deconstruction and Salvage Program. These members came to New Orleans from various parts of the country to facilitate the city’s recovery efforts. RTNO would not have grown into one of the largest deconstruction programs in New Orleans without the determination and hard work of these five individuals.

RTNO partnered with LDSC in order to host this particular group of AmeriCorps members who were the eyes, ears, and hands of the program, LDSC partners with non-profits, community and faith based organizations, public schools and government agencies to help build safer, smarter, and healthier communities. To date, LDSC has funneled 1,050 members to non-profits in the region over the past four years, and is one of 400 AmeriCorps National Service programs across the country.

Working at the ground level throughout the greater New Orleans area, RTNO’s LDSC members used an array of construction skills and practices to dismantle blighted and unoccupied properties in order to preserve and maintain as many reusable building materials as possible from being thrown into the region’s landfills. Deconstruction is physically demanding and can be incredibly dangerous, therefore calling for constant precaution and mental focus. The Deconstruction Field Crew gained the necessary skills throughout their service term to successfully and safely complete deconstruction projects; ultimately becoming professionals within the emerging industry.

Since the beginning of their term in September of 2010, they have single handedly saved 292.57 cubic yards of reusable building materials from being wasted, and recycled over 17,000 lbs of metal from structures located throughout New Orleans.

On behalf of RTNO, I would like to thank each member for serving with our team, and am honored to have worked alongside them throughout the past year. RTNO’s Deconstruction and Salvage Program continues to grow in capacity because of the tremendous dedication and passion each member brought to work on a daily basis. I wish you all the best of luck with your next adventure.