There are few activities that embody the Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) spirit quite like assisting in the wake of a natural disaster. The work involves long, exhausting hours supporting and uplifting communities that have suffered untold devastation, and the experience offers a clear view of both the worst effects of nature and the best qualities of humanity. Sometimes, you even meet a few Hokies along the way.
In fall 2022, Bill Laughlin '92, Jess Lentner '13, Jose Lobo '98, John McNally, and Dan Villa '03 arrived in Florida as strangers. They had been recruited to employ their backgrounds in architecture and engineering to assess structural damage to houses on Sanibel Island after Hurricane Ian.
Once there, they met Rob Taylor '82, who retired six years earlier after 37 years as a civil structural engineer with the U.S. Corps of Engineers. Post-retirement Taylor continued to take assignments on disaster recovery operations when called upon, and he was on his second stint supporting recovery efforts in Florida.
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