STORAGE
F
Safe T Homes® SAVE Lives
A
In the wake of the destruction left by Hurricane Matthew, Sukup Manufacturing and GoServ Global is ready to send 24 additional Safe T Homes® to Haiti.
t Milling and Grain we are always looking to champion innovative solutions in our industry that cross over into benefitting others and early reports from GoServ Global indicate that while only 10 percent of the traditional homes in the area were left standing after Hurricane Matthew, all 200 of the Sukup Manufacturing Co. Safe T Homes® currently in Haiti withstood the storm with just minimal damage. The people in villages with Safe T Homes® were able to use them as shelter to ride out the hurricane. GoServ Global, a non-profit organization out of Eagle Grove, Iowa, that works directly in Haiti, states that at their John 3:16 Village, people from the community “crammed as many people as possible into the Safe T Homes®; up to 60 in one.” Sukup Manufacturing Co. is the world’s largest family-owned and operated grain storage, drying and handling equipment manufacturer headquartered in Sheffield, Iowa, and covers 1,000,000 sq. ft. of office, manufacturing and warehouse space. The company employs over 500 people, making it one of the largest employers in North Central Iowa. Indeed, three generations of the family are now active in the business. The round shape of the Safe T Home® allows it to withstand high winds and windows come with 16-gauge galvanized perforated steel screens that have lockable covers for security. Hurricane Matthew put the strength of the Safe T Home® to the test with winds reaching up to 145 mph being categorized as one
68 | November 2016 - Milling and Grain
of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in recent history. Charles Sukup, president of Sukup Manufacturing Co. comments, “The whole idea behind the Safe T Home® was to take the same engineering principles we used to help farmers protect their crop from the harsh weather conditions of the Midwest, and apply them to provide safe and secure shelters for people in underdeveloped parts of the world.” He continues, “We are very proud of the design of the Safe T Home® and how it held up in the worst hurricane to hit Haiti in over 50 years.” After the devastating earthquake in 2010, GoServ Global teamed up with Sukup Manufacturing Co. to help provide people with a sturdy and secure structure to call home. “It was a simple decision when our safety director, Brett Nelson, asked me whether he could pursue bin homes for relief efforts,” says Steve Sukup, vice president/chief financial officer at Sukup Manufacturing Co. He further comments, “Brett asked, ‘What size?!’ I said 18 foot. That has worked out great! We are a familyowned company with family values and feel proud to contribute.” In 2013, Sukup Manufacturing once again paired with GoServ Global to raise money to provide 25 Safe T Homes® to areas in need of housing. Sukup pledged to match donations one-for-one, for a total of 50 homes. Including the “50 Homes for Humanity” campaign, Sukup Manufacturing has donated more than 75 Safe T Homes®. “Hundreds of Iowans and many others around the country have provided funding for Safe T Homes® through churches, Christmas presents and more,” says Emily Schmitt, corporate counsel, a third-generation Sukup family member. “In this