The devastating terrorist attacks against in the United States on September 11, 2001, resulted in the loss of thousands of innocent lives and the destruction of some of the nations most recognizable landmarks. The World Trade Center towers in New York City were completely destroyed and portions of the Pentagon in Washington D.C. were damaged. At the WTC site alone, officials removed approximately 115,756 tons of debris within the first two weeks of the attacks. The government estimates that approximately 1.2 million tons of debris will need to be removed from the WTC site in the next several months. It's unclear how the current state of international affairs will affect the landscape industry as a whole. However, one thing is clear - the list of individual companies within the landscape industry who have donated money, services and equipment to the relief effort keeps growing.

Pavestone Company donated supplies to the New York City Fire Department for clean-up operations at the WTC site. Andy Wichell, the general manager of the Boston branch, spearheaded a campaign in which Pavestone employees donated money to purchase emergency supplies, including 200 pairs of gloves, 50 shovels, 60 pairs of goggles, 200 five-gallon buckets and 80 respirators. Chicago-based firm PolyBrite International donated its high-tech illuminated safety vests to rescue workers in New York. Husqvarna donated power cutters to rescue teams, along with hundreds of work gloves, safety glasses, ear protection and more than 1,000 rain ponchos. The company also promised to match all employee donations to the American Red Cross.

Deere & Company donated equipment, such as Gator utility vehicles, concrete saws, generators and skid steer loaders to affected areas in Washington, D.C., New York City and Pennsylvania. The company also created the "John Deere Special Fund for America" to provide employees, retirees, dealers and customers the opportunity to send money to recovery efforts and affected families. The John Deere Foundation launched the fund with a $250,000 contribution from the company. Textron, Inc. donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund which benefits victims and their families. Syngenta will donate $200,000 to the same fund to meet immediate needs in both New York and Washington, D.C. Caterpillar provided both equipment and operator expertise to efforts in New York, including 25 contractors working at the site, while Case-New Holland provided wheeled excavators, skid steer loaders, wheel loaders and backhoes. Komatsu donated material handlers and excavators to New York City, and will match all employee donations. The American Wood Preservers Institute coordinated an effort among its members to collect $19,288.

Landscape companies from all over the world are continuing to contribute to the relief effort and eventual restoration of the affected areas. In alphabetical order, the following roster is a partial list of those companies who are making a difference: Chemical Specialities, Inc. made a contribution on behalf of it customers in lieu of its traditional holiday gift; Endicott Clay Products Co.'s 247 employees donated $3,635 to the American Red Cross. The company then matched the employee donations for a total of $7,270; Hadco Lighting, a division of Genlyte Thomas Group, LLC, and its employees contributed $2,015 to the American Red Cross; Integrated Paving Concepts Inc. donated $3 per unit sold of its base coating products during the entire month of October. The company hopes to raise at least $8,000 for the American Red Cross; Kenneth Lynch & Sons sent a letter to New York City Mayor Rudolph Guiliani offering to donate up to 40 World's Fair Benches to be installed at a future Memorial for the victims of the attack; Profile Products LLC raised $5,000 for the American Red Cross; Sepulveda Building Materials and Lompoc Quarries is coordinating a fundraising effort for the American Red Cross Liberty Fund. In exchange for donations greater than $15, customers will receive a "United We Stand" T-shirt available at any of its Southern California retail stores; Spring City Electrical Mfg. Co. offered to supply 10 NYC-standard M style cast light poles and arms; Surface America donated $1,000 to the relief fund; Unilock Paving Stones and Retaining Walls donated $50,000 to the relief efforts; and Vertex Water Features, a division of Aquatic Systems, Inc., donated $5,000 to the American Red Cross.

The response of the landscape industry to the terrorists attacks against the country may inspire other companies to donate money or services towards the emergency relief effort. As Joe DeCarlo, PolyBrite’s VP for Military and Industrial Sales recently said, “If each company in America does something to donate to the cause, the rescue and relief operations will be safer and smoother." And when the relief operations are complete, the landscape profession will have an even greater impact on the country's renewal process. Because once the dust settles and the sun rises, the landscape industry can again turns its sights on what it does best...beautifying the country.