Rexel comes together to weather Nashville flood
Electrical distributor's team effort maintains customer services following natural disaster


DALLAS, TX, June 18, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- When middle Tennessee experienced its greatest amount of rainfall in recorded history on May 1st and 2nd, massive flooding devastated many homes and businesses in the area including the Rexel Inc. electrical distribution branch in Nashville. The 61,000 square foot facility, stocked with electrical and datacom products, was inundated with five feet of water and sewage, destroying all inventory and office equipment - a total loss. That's when Rexel's national organization, sister branches and community offices came to the rescue to help maintain customer services for the Nashville operation and its customers.

Immediately following the disaster, the Rexel Clarksville branch, approximately 45 miles away, offered interim quarters, phones and data lines to the Nashville sales team. Meanwhile, the Nashville operations team jumped into action to expedite occupancy in a new building, that was coincidentally - and fortunately - being completed for a summer 2010 grand opening. That structure itself had only been slightly damaged by the flood waters.

With the help of the local and regional Rexel teams, the Nashville crew worked closely with their new landlord, the Nashville chief of police, the mayor's office and other officials to occupy and secure the Rexel location. Offices were set up in a rented trailer located next to the new branch site. Division management coordinated with vendors to replace the inventory that was destroyed, bringing the warehouse of this nearly completed facility to life as the shipments began to arrive.

The Rexel IT team secured computer equipment and established communications for the provisional location. Associates from the five sister branches in the region arrived on site and teamed up to help ready the branch. Rexel's national operations team re-routed trucks, located new warehouse racking, and provided shipping equipment. The Rexel branch in Sacramento, California, shipped in wire racking, while the Doraville, Georgia, branch sent pipe racks. The Rexel branch in Melbourne, Florida, supplied a lift truck; the branch in Orlando sent generators, and the Tampa branch shipped over a counter desk and a wire machine.

This whole team effort made it possible for the temporary Nashville branch to be fully operational in just five days.

"The strength within Rexel and the pride of our associates generated the confidence to weather the storm," remarked David Silas, regional operations manager, Middle Tennessee & Alabama. "The show of mutual support was unbelievable from locations across the country. It is a great feeling to know we have so many people supporting us." Incidentally, Silas's first day in his role as regional operations manager was the day of the flood.

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Harry McBrien
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