Insights > Entergy Powers Life in Louisiana with Volunteers, Partnerships and Contributions

Entergy Powers Life in Louisiana with Volunteers, Partnerships and Contributions

By:

09/11/2016

Company awards $525,000 in grants and other support to help customers, employees and communities recovering from devastating floods.

As Entergy workers safely restored electric and gas service to the more than 32,000 customers impacted by Louisiana’s devastating floods last month, our company also began implementing proven actions to re-energize communities.

At Entergy, our vision is We Power Life. That means going beyond providing essential electric and gas services that power homes, businesses and industries. Entergy also fuels the human power that comes from working every day together with our community partners to improve lives, create opportunities and strengthen our communities.

When disasters like the recent floods in Louisiana strike, getting the power restored is essential. And so is restoring lives.

Our community response plan includes mobilizing volunteers, making donations and partnering with community recovery organizations.

Before the flood waters had even begun to recede, our employees began asking what they could do to help. We began leveraging community partnerships, identifying opportunities and taking actions that we know power lives in times of greatest trauma and need.

Approximately 120 Entergy employees mobilized within the first week to help friends, neighbors — and in this event, more than 250 co-workers — clear homes and businesses of debris, remove sheetrock and carpeting and begin rebuilding. Eight hours of paid time off was provided to employees to participate in company-organized volunteer response activities and individual actions. Employee-led food and supply drives were launched.  Additionally, a contribution site was created that allows employees and others to make financial donations directed toward the recovery of Entergy employees.

Entergy also worked with strategic partners to assess and determine needed support for short-term assistance such as temporary lodging, food and clothing as well as long-term recovery needs.

Our company contributed $525,000 to partner organizations providing essential services for impacted area residents.

These donations include:

- An allocation of $100,000 of a $450,000 pre-commitment to the American Red Cross National Disaster Response Fund for immediate use in areas impacted by the floods, helping provide basic needs and shelter for 3,000 individuals/families displaced by the disaster.

- A $25,000 grant to United Way of Southeast Louisiana for case management and 2-11 referral services to help connect employees and customers with community services and resources for flood victims.

- A $100,000 pledge to help the Baton Rouge Area Food Bank—which was inundated with four feet of flood water and suffered the loss of one million pounds of food along with critical damage to their facility and warehouse—recover quickly so that it can continue to help the many families who will need assistance in the coming months.

- $300,000 to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation to help impacted families and individuals recover and rebuild.

One of the biggest lessons we have learned is that when disaster strikes, it is always the most vulnerable individuals – the elderly, the poor and the disabled — who have the hardest road to recovery. We’re here to help them in any way we can. It is part of who we are at Entergy. It is part of what we do.

We share with our customers a determination to protect and expand a way of life here in Louisiana that is culturally rich and essential to fueling the nation’s economy. Resiliency is in our DNA. Time after time, our employees, customers, communities and company are tested by severe weather events. We know how to prepare and then bounce back. But it takes us all working together to be successful.