On September 17 Tropical Storm Imelda made landfall in Texas. The system stalled inundating Galveston and Beaumont with rain. Some areas received up to 43 inches, making it the fifth wettest tropical cyclone in the United States. Damage is estimated to be around $2 billion.
Just as you know a person by their actions, so likewise do you know a company. ExxonMobil is donating $350,000 to the Imelda relief efforts. The donation is being split between the United Way of Beaumont and North Jefferson County ($200,000) and the Greater Houston Red Cross ($150,000). Both organizations will use the donations to provide food, shelter, counseling and other essentials.
Not the first time, and not the last
This is not the first time ExxonMobil has helped its community with disaster relief. But they aren’t the only oil and gas company to step up in a time of need. The hurricane season of 2008 saw Hurricane Ike, Gustav and Hannah. Much help was needed and much help was given:
- Marathon Oil Company donated: $1 million to the Red Cross for Hurricane Ike relief, and $500,000 to Hurricane Gustav relief.
- ExxonMobil donated: $5 million to the Red Cross, the United Way, the Salvation Army and the Texas Disaster Relief Fund for Hurricane Ike; $1.5 million to Hurricane Gustav relief.
- BP Foundation donated: $8 million to Hurricane Ike and Gustav relief; plus they matched employee donations.
- Chevron donated: $3 million for Ike, Gustav and Hannah.
- Shell Oil and Motiva Enterprises LLC donated: $4 million for Hurricane Ike and Gustav relief.
Helping to heal after Harvery
Hurricane Harvey, the first major hurricane to make landfall in the United States since 2005, is still the foremost storm in the minds of most Texas and Louisiana residents. It was. The list of companies who helped with the relief effort for Hurricane Harvey is both impressive and extensive. According to the Texas Oil and Natural Gas Association (TXOGA), the industry donated more than $32.3 million to the relief effort. Here are some of the oil and gas companies on the list:
- BP and the BP Foundation: $750,000, plus they matched employee donations
- Cheniere Energy: $1 million
- Citgo: $3 million
- ConocoPhillips: $2.5 million
- ExxonMobil: $1 million
- Phillips 66: $1 million, plus they matched employee donations up to $15,000 per person
- Range Resources: $100,000
- Shell: $1 million
- Valero: $1 million
“Texans have displayed the best part of humanity in the face of this historic storm,” said Todd Staples, president of TXOGA. “It is such an honor to work with an industry that is so heavily invested in areas where they operate and to see them step up in such a significant way to rebuild these communities.”