STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Among the powerful effects of Hurricane Sandy on the Northeast last fall was extensive damage to school bus fleets and facilities.

For Atlantic Express Transportation Corp., hundreds of yellow school buses from its New York City fleet were severely damaged or completely destroyed. The national contractor needed immediate help to replace the fleet.

The team at Blue Bird worked relentlessly to fill an initial order of 100 Blue Bird Visions within record time for delivery this past December, company officials said.

Blue Bird dealers and customers across North America agreed to defer buses that were scheduled for immediate build to ensure that buses for Atlantic Express were instead placed into their production slots to aid hurricane relief efforts. Additionally, official said that Blue Bird employees, along with a committed supply base, worked vigorously to ensure that all 100 buses were built for expedited delivery.

“Hundreds of employees throughout Blue Bird worked closely with the production team and our suppliers to reduce lead time by 60% and ensure that each bus was able to travel down the production line on an accelerated schedule that ensured December delivery," said Phil Horlock, president and CEO of Blue Bird Corp. "The ability to deliver these 100 buses in record time is a testament to the commitment and perseverance of Blue Bird employees, Blue Bird dealers and our outstanding suppliers coming together with a common mission to help the people of New York City.”

“Atlantic Express is very grateful to Blue Bird and its suppliers for stepping up and quickly mobilizing to manufacture and deliver 100 brand new Blue Bird school buses to replace a portion of our fleet destroyed by Hurricane Sandy,” said Domenic Gatto, CEO and president of Atlantic Express. “Having a brand new, reliable and safe fleet on the road allows us to do our important job and fulfill our commitment to the children and the entire city of New York.”

Rick Reichenbach, president of Bird Bus Sales in New York, added that "as a member of Blue Bird’s valuable dealer network, Bird Bus Sales can appreciate the generosity extended by Blue Bird’s dealers and employees working to ensure that Atlantic Express’ buses were able to be placed into immediate production and be delivered in record time.”

Blue Bird's supplier network also rose to the challenge to quickly replace the storm-damaged school buses, adding extra hours to production schedules and working overtime to provide expedited parts.

Blue Bird officials commended the following suppliers for going "the extra mile": Aloma Shim, American Fabricators, Amsafe, Apogee, Bendix, Bergstrom, Blue Linx, Bode, Bostrum Seating, C.E. White Co., Cummins Emissions, Cummins Inc., Delphi, Global Harnesses, Haralson Metal, Hendrickson Axles, Hendrickson Springs, Hotstart Mfg., I.O. Controls, Machine Tech, Meritor Axles, National Seating, Paramont, RCA Rubber, Rosco Mirrors, Schwartz Precision, Specialty Manufacturing, Spectal, St. Clair, Tankcraft, TitanX and Turning Inc.

More on Hurricane Sandy:

• Hurricane Sandy: the impact on NYC's school bus fleets