Hundreds of workers laid off after Smitty’s Supply explosion in Roseland

TANGIPAHOA PARISH, La. (WGNO) — Just days after a massive explosion rocked the Smitty’s Supply plant in Roseland, the company has laid off its entire workforce, leaving nearly 450 employees without jobs.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission in partnership with Geaux Jobs has rolled out a mobile job center to help displaced workers. The center is offering resume assistance, unemployment filings and job applications. So far, about 160 people have already come through looking for their next opportunity.

“If anybody is interested in going back to school, to upgrade your skills, we’ve been helping them. We can sign them up for orientation so that we can provide funding to send them back to school,” said Erica Turner with Geaux Jobs.

For longtime employees like Russell Holt, the sudden layoffs have been difficult to process. Holt worked at Smitty’s Supply for 14 years.

“Everyone’s in disbelief, it’s a shock. It was a big family up there. Everyone knew everyone and we had a good time, good people, good managers and good owners. To wake up the next day and it’s gone, it’s just hard to fathom,” Holt said.

Louisiana’s unemployment benefits max out at $275 a week. Under a new law, benefits are limited to just 12 weeks since the state’s jobless rate is low. Workers who enroll in approved training programs can qualify for up to 8 additional weeks, but state leaders say the ultimate goal is to get people back to work quickly.

“You’ve got to move forward. So you know, I’m upset that the place I spent so much time with great people is under these circumstances, but you have to move on,” Holt added.

For now, families who once relied on Smitty’s Supply to provide steady paychecks are leaning on one another and their community as they figure out what comes next.

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