Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 21, 1993 TAG: 9305210293
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: FAIRLAWN LENGTH: Medium
Jones, who has worked at the Radford plant for 17 years, is getting the award for her efforts to help victims of Hurricane Andrew, which ravaged parts of South Florida in September.
When the Federal Emergency Management Agency asked the corps to help hurricane victims, Jones volunteered for reassignment in Florida.
She could hardly believe the destruction that faced her when she got there.
"Just think of your whole neighborhood being flat, with nothing for miles but demolished cars and the remains of what once was your home," she said.
Jones, who spent about 90 days in Florida, provided administrative support for builders helping to restore the area.
She made more than 50 phone calls a day, made copies, shipped materials and completed contracts.
Bill Brown, a public affairs officer for the Corps of Engineers district office in Norfolk, said Jones was nominated for the award by the people she worked with in Florida.
"I was real surprised when I found out about the award," Jones said. "All I wanted was a certificate of appreciation."
Jones is the only person at the Radford plant getting the award, but about 20 of the Norfolk districts 450 workers will get the same award.
Some years, Brown said, no one will get the award, but more are being awarded this year be cause of the high number of natural disasters.
Gen. Paul Y. Chinen, commander of the corps' North Atlantic Division in New York, will present the citation and a medal to Jones at the Radford arsenal.
by CNB