Dow Chemical to help Hurricane Katrina affected employees & others

01 Sep '05

3 min read

Michigan based chemical maker The Dow Chemical Company announced that after hurricane Katrina swept through the U.S. gulf coast states, Dow is responding to the needs in the region. This includes a plan for the urgent assistance of employees in the affected region, as well as major contributions for the region as a whole.

With some 7,000 employees at six sites throughout the state of Louisiana, the safety and welfare of employees is the company's highest priority. St. Charles Operations, a Union Carbide facility situated alongside the Mississippi River on the outskirts of New Orleans, appears to be the most severely affected of the Louisiana sites. The facility employs nearly 1,100 direct employees and more than 2,000 contract employees, many of whom live in the surrounding towns and have been forced to evacuate their homes. Hotline numbers have been established, and efforts are underway to help employees who need immediate assistance.

Also, Dow announced that it would contribute $3 million to the hurricane relief efforts. The donation will consist of:
·$1 million in an immediate cash donation to the American Red Cross,
·$1 million match to employee and retiree donations to the American Red Cross, and
·$1 million in products and technology donations for the longer term reconstruction effort.

"As reports of the devastation from this storm continue to develop, company will do whatever to help," commented Andrew Liveris, President and CEO. "Immediate concern, of course, is for employees and their families in the region, but it quickly extends to all of those people who are suffering through this devastating event. Once again, they turn to the Red Cross as the primary agency to receive monetary support to provide immediate, vital help to the people in need, and urge employees to also direct their donations there.

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