How We Help With Hurricane Preparedness; Disaster Relief and Rebuilding Efforts

In the North Atlantic ocean, hurricanes season kicks off June 1 each year and continues through November when the ocean has been warmed during the summer months.  Hurricanes are large, spiraling tropical storms that can pack wind speeds of over 150 miles per hour and unleash trillions of gallons of rain. Hurricanes impact our employees, our customers, our operations and our communities. That’s why we spend all year helping customers prepare; why we partner with non-profit organizations to provide support to those directly impacted by storms and how we help rebuild communities. 

Getting Prepared

Sales, manufacturing and logistics teams across Georgia-Pacific help home improvement industry customers plan for the storm season more than six months in advance. This includes staging products used for hurricane preparation, like plywood, in strategic locations so it can be accessed easily by consumers. 

We also work with a variety of partners to provide safety tips and storm prep information to communities who may be affected by storms, (from the East Coast all the way to Texas). 

When a Storm Strikes

Hurricanes bring a lot of hazards ashore.  Winds and flooding cause most of the damage to shores and buildings and impact many communities. After a hurricane strikes, our partner Convoy of Hope is usually among the first responders into any impacted areas. Convoy is able to provide immediate relief to people directly impacted by hurricane damage. This includes providing food, clean water and hygiene kits.  GP products including our toilet paper, paper towels, paper plates and cups are donated to Convoy of Hope to be used to provide immediate relief. Convoy isn’t just there after hurricanes. They are a first responder, providing relief after any natural disaster strikes.   

Convoy of Hope brings everyday essentials to those who need it most. Watch the video here

Other GP partners, like Kids in Need, help restore classrooms so teachers can get back on track quickly.

Sometimes our employees live and work in the path of a natural disaster.  The Koch Employee Assistance Fund helps employees who are facing a significant, devastating loss in the wake of a natural disaster. The Fund relies primarily on individual donations from employees and support from Koch companies. You can apply for a grant or donate here.

Rebuilding

Through partners like Rebuilding Together and Habitat for Humanity, we work to restore areas impacted by natural disasters.  In some cases, our employees get personally involved, providing much needed supplies and clean-up help in areas that need it most.

Our efforts help communities prepare, respond and rebuild when natural disasters strike.