In August 2016, a historic, unnamed storm stalled over south Louisiana, dropping more than 20 inches of rain in just a few days. Rivers rose fast. Streets disappeared. Thousands of homes and businesses, including ours, were underwater with little warning.

A call came in early that Saturday—an alarm at the shop. Moments later, we learned the road to Gator was already impassable. When the water finally receded, we returned to a building we barely recognized. Silence. Stillness. And three feet of water that changed everything.

More Than a Rebuild

It wasn’t just the equipment at our shop. Many of our team members lost their homes. So we focused on what mattered most—our people. We split our staff each day. Half of our team rebuilt Gator. The other half helped rebuild homes. We cooked meals, delivered supplies and showed up every morning ready to work together.

We reached out to every contractor we were working with, sharing what had happened, what we’d lost and what we could still promise. Our capabilities were shaken, but our commitment was not.

What Carried Us Forward

The flood reshaped us. It forced us to lead with instinct, to think in new ways and to lean harder on each other. What started as the worst moment in our history revealed something lasting: trust. It’s hard to prepare for moments like that. But when they come, they show you what you’re made of. Years later, we rebuilt our shop into a sprawling 78,000 sqft facility. But what we’re most proud of is that we restored the heart of who we are and have carried the lessons the flood showed us ever since.