Photo By Mark Haviland | Simon Fet, a civil engineer with the Army Corps of Engineers Huntington District,...... read more read more
JOPLIN, Mo. - Simon Fet is one of the lucky ones. He loves his work, and his work environment encourages growth and professional development.
Fet is a civil engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District. He deployed June 13 with colleagues to Joplin, Mo., to help out with a large-scale tornado recovery effort. On May 22, an EF-5 tornado slammed the city of 50,000, leaving 160 dead and destroying thousands of homes and buildings.
As part of the National Response Framework, FEMA has tasked the Corps with three main missions: removing debris, setting up temporary housing, and replacing lost critical infrastructure including schools and fire stations.
Fet and others from Huntington were assigned to the temporary housing mission.
It’s only been a few months since the Huntington, W.Va., native earned a master’s degree in engineering from his hometown Marshall University, where he had also earned a bachelor’s in civil engineering in 2008.
Already, Fet is making a difference in the real world. He expressed appreciation for the opportunity to “hit the ground running” with the Corps. There is no gradual learning period, and that suits Fet perfectly well since he describes himself as a results-oriented person who enjoys seeing projects come to fruition.
“Being able to make things happen is one of the greatest rewards of working as an engineer for the Corps,” Fet said. “The projects you work on directly affect your community and the people in your area. In the case of emergency operations, you are able to see your results immediately as you go from design/construction phases to completion in just weeks and make a difference in people’s lives almost immediately.”
Such was the case in Joplin, where in early July, Army Corps contractors broke ground in a field on the outskirts of the city. They dug trenches, laid water, sewer and electrical lines, and prepared gravel pads for modular homes. In a matter of days, the empty field was populated by rows of white modular homes.
On July 23, FEMA began moving the manufactured homes into place, and dozens were slated to be ready for occupancy by early August. About 200 units will already be ready for occupancy on time for the beginning of classes in the Joplin School District, Aug. 17.
“In temporary housing construction, it is rewarding to know that you are part of a project that helps get displaced families into homes as soon as possible,” Fet said. He appreciates the gratitude people have shown him when he’s out in public and they recognize his Corps of Engineers attire.
In the Huntington District, Fet handles cost engineering for civil works projects and the Corps’ Interagency and International Services, which provides technical assistance to federal agencies, state and local governments, and foreign governments. He manages projects and programs, and compiles project estimates. His cost projections help the Corps execute its missions on time and within budgetary constraints, ensuring that taxpayers’ money is wisely spent.
In Joplin, Fet began his assignment developing cost estimates and assisting with preparation of a contract award. He then transitioned to acting as the action officer and mission manager, serving as the Corps liaison to FEMA and the City of Joplin. He’s building upon previous experience gained in a 2009 emergency operations response to severe flooding in southern West Virginia.
Looking back, Fet is grateful to the Marshall professors who provided him with support and guidance, and said his Corps supervisors have also been supportive. He appreciates the diverse range of experiences, challenges and opportunities his current position offers, as well as the Corps’ deep well of resources.
Outside of work, Fet stays active, playing soccer, traveling, cooking and following his alma mater’s football team, the Marshall Thundering Herd.
| Date Taken: | 08.01.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 08.01.2011 17:15 |
| Story ID: | 74647 |
| Location: | JOPLIN, MISSOURI, US |
| Web Views: | 210 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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