LA_MERC_MadMAX
August 30th, 2005, 08:25 PM
I was curious to see if Best Buy was going to donate some $$$ to the relief efforts for the Gulf Coast, and here's what I found out. They are going to match donations up to $250,000.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: FW: Hurricane Update
Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2005 20:35:54 -0500
From: Rowe, Jayson <[email protected]>
To: [email protected], [email protected]
________________________________
From: Huggins, Russell
Sent: Tue 8/30/2005 4:07 PM
To: Rowe, Jayson
Subject: Hurricane Update
Jayson, here's an update on the stores that were impacted by the Hurricane. I just thought that you may be interested.
BBY Responding to Stores Hit By Hurricane
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
UPDATED: Aug. 30, 2005
Ten Best Buy stores remain closed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which hit Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.
Corporate and field leadership is monitoring the situation and standing-by with appropriate support. Please note: All nonessential corporate communications should be discontinued so that employees in the affected areas can focus on emergency relief work.
Company's Response
Our hearts are with those trying to recover from Katrina's devastation. Several stores closed in anticipation of the hurricane so employees could prepare themselves, their families and their homes for the storms. The safety of our employees comes first and foremost. We've received word from the majority of our affected employees, and so far all are safe and accounted for.
Closed Best Buy Stores
Several stores are still closed as they wait for electricity and phone service. In all, approximately 15 stores were affected by the hurricane in some way. Stores will open when the environment is safe. At this time, we have not been able to survey damage to stores.
Our stores in the heavily affected areas are focusing on attending to employee needs - from toilet paper to paychecks. Best Buy offers resources to employees facing catastrophes through the Schulze Family Fund (employees must apply). Best Buy is supporting the Red Cross.
Affected stores include:
Mobile, Ala.
* Store #678 - Spanish Fort
* Store #340 - Mobile
Hattiesburg, Miss.
* Store #661 - Hattiesburg
Jackson, Miss.
* Store #336 - Jackson
* Store #938 - Flowood
New Orleans/Lake Pontchartrain
* Store #380 - Slidell
* Store #572 - Vets (Metairie, La.)
* Store #373 - Westbank (Harvey, La.)
* Store #612 - Covington
Houma, La. (costal)
* Store #943 - Houma
Stores affected, but now open include:
* Store #495 - Baton Rouge (La.)
* Store #552 - West Kendall (Miami)
* Store #553 - Tropicaire (Miami)
* Store #556 - Cutler Ridge (Miami)
Best Buy Responds to Hurricane Katrina
Best Buy and the Best Buy Children's Foundation are working with the American Red Cross to coordinate a response to the devastating damage in the Gulf Coast created by Hurricane Katrina.
Best Buy will begin a nationwide relief effort by accepting donations at our cash registers in all Best Buy stores to benefit the Red Cross relief efforts. The Best Buy Children's Foundation will match customer and employee donations up to $250,000.
As always, with a natural disaster, our first concern is for the safety of our employees and their families. Nearly all employees have been accounted for and, we are in the process of trying to reach those have not been accounted for. An information call-in line has been set up for employees at 678-591-1370.
Several Best Buy stores are without power and water and remained closed. Employees directly affected by the hurricane are encouraged to seek the following Best Buy partnerships/assistance programs are available to you:
* United Way <http://unitedway.org/>
* Red Cross <http://www.redcross.org/>
* Employee Assistance Program - Call 1-800-227-8620 or visit www.bdaeap.com <http://www.bdaeap.com/> (password: bestbuyeap)
* Schulze Family Fund <http://tagzone.bestbuy.com/Benefits_HR_Policies_Jobs/SchulzeFamFund.asp> - contact [email protected]
The Company will continue to develop an assistance plan with the American Red Cross based on their needs. Read TagZone news or Retail Insider for additional updates. In the meantime, if you have questions about our relief efforts, please contact Stacy Hanley <mailto:[email protected]> or Jessica Sluss <mailto:[email protected]> with questions.
Hurricane Katrina Aftermath
Hurricane Katrina made landfall near Empire, Louisiana shortly after 7 a.m. (Eastern Time) Aug. 29 as a Category 4 storm with 140 mph sustained winds. It has since weakened and moved inland into the Ohio valley.
Search and rescue efforts continue today (Aug. 30). Mississippi and Louisiana officials insist that it's too dangerous for residents to return to their homes and urged evacuees and those stranded by flooding to stay put. State police and Department of Homeland Security personnel are blocking re-entry routes to all non-emergency workers and some violators have already been arrested. A shooting was reported in the West Bank area of New Orleans and some looting continues.
New Orleans floodwaters continued to rise today after a two block long section of the Lake Pontchartrain levee gave way. Approximately 80 percent of the city is flooded. During the storm a 50-inch water main was severed, cutting off some of the drinking water leading to advisories that residents should boil water.
In Mississippi, streets and homes were flooded as far as six miles inland. Waters had receded slightly in Biloxi, but downed trees and debris still litter the streets.
The Alabama National Guard has activated 450 troops in Mobile to carry out a dusk to dawn curfew after large sections of the city were submerged in water from Mobile Bay. Another 800 troops, were activated to assist in Mississippi.
Over 1.7 million homes and businesses in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida are still without electricity. Energy has over 1 million customers without power in Louisiana and Mississippi; Alabama Power has over 500,000 without power (Birmingham 182,000; Montgomery 8,530; Tuscaloosa 132,000; and Mobile 195,716); and Mississippi Power has only one transmission line still in service. Most cell towers and land line phones are out of service with no estimate for restoration.
FEMA is reporting some of the worst damage they've ever seen and is making preparations to house tens of thousands of victims for several months. The American Red Cross is launching it's largest relief operation in its history.
Stay tuned
The Company will continue to update this story on an as needed basis. Please check back for more updates.
Chad Huggins ("The Chad")
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: FW: Hurricane Update
Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2005 20:35:54 -0500
From: Rowe, Jayson <[email protected]>
To: [email protected], [email protected]
________________________________
From: Huggins, Russell
Sent: Tue 8/30/2005 4:07 PM
To: Rowe, Jayson
Subject: Hurricane Update
Jayson, here's an update on the stores that were impacted by the Hurricane. I just thought that you may be interested.
BBY Responding to Stores Hit By Hurricane
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
UPDATED: Aug. 30, 2005
Ten Best Buy stores remain closed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which hit Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.
Corporate and field leadership is monitoring the situation and standing-by with appropriate support. Please note: All nonessential corporate communications should be discontinued so that employees in the affected areas can focus on emergency relief work.
Company's Response
Our hearts are with those trying to recover from Katrina's devastation. Several stores closed in anticipation of the hurricane so employees could prepare themselves, their families and their homes for the storms. The safety of our employees comes first and foremost. We've received word from the majority of our affected employees, and so far all are safe and accounted for.
Closed Best Buy Stores
Several stores are still closed as they wait for electricity and phone service. In all, approximately 15 stores were affected by the hurricane in some way. Stores will open when the environment is safe. At this time, we have not been able to survey damage to stores.
Our stores in the heavily affected areas are focusing on attending to employee needs - from toilet paper to paychecks. Best Buy offers resources to employees facing catastrophes through the Schulze Family Fund (employees must apply). Best Buy is supporting the Red Cross.
Affected stores include:
Mobile, Ala.
* Store #678 - Spanish Fort
* Store #340 - Mobile
Hattiesburg, Miss.
* Store #661 - Hattiesburg
Jackson, Miss.
* Store #336 - Jackson
* Store #938 - Flowood
New Orleans/Lake Pontchartrain
* Store #380 - Slidell
* Store #572 - Vets (Metairie, La.)
* Store #373 - Westbank (Harvey, La.)
* Store #612 - Covington
Houma, La. (costal)
* Store #943 - Houma
Stores affected, but now open include:
* Store #495 - Baton Rouge (La.)
* Store #552 - West Kendall (Miami)
* Store #553 - Tropicaire (Miami)
* Store #556 - Cutler Ridge (Miami)
Best Buy Responds to Hurricane Katrina
Best Buy and the Best Buy Children's Foundation are working with the American Red Cross to coordinate a response to the devastating damage in the Gulf Coast created by Hurricane Katrina.
Best Buy will begin a nationwide relief effort by accepting donations at our cash registers in all Best Buy stores to benefit the Red Cross relief efforts. The Best Buy Children's Foundation will match customer and employee donations up to $250,000.
As always, with a natural disaster, our first concern is for the safety of our employees and their families. Nearly all employees have been accounted for and, we are in the process of trying to reach those have not been accounted for. An information call-in line has been set up for employees at 678-591-1370.
Several Best Buy stores are without power and water and remained closed. Employees directly affected by the hurricane are encouraged to seek the following Best Buy partnerships/assistance programs are available to you:
* United Way <http://unitedway.org/>
* Red Cross <http://www.redcross.org/>
* Employee Assistance Program - Call 1-800-227-8620 or visit www.bdaeap.com <http://www.bdaeap.com/> (password: bestbuyeap)
* Schulze Family Fund <http://tagzone.bestbuy.com/Benefits_HR_Policies_Jobs/SchulzeFamFund.asp> - contact [email protected]
The Company will continue to develop an assistance plan with the American Red Cross based on their needs. Read TagZone news or Retail Insider for additional updates. In the meantime, if you have questions about our relief efforts, please contact Stacy Hanley <mailto:[email protected]> or Jessica Sluss <mailto:[email protected]> with questions.
Hurricane Katrina Aftermath
Hurricane Katrina made landfall near Empire, Louisiana shortly after 7 a.m. (Eastern Time) Aug. 29 as a Category 4 storm with 140 mph sustained winds. It has since weakened and moved inland into the Ohio valley.
Search and rescue efforts continue today (Aug. 30). Mississippi and Louisiana officials insist that it's too dangerous for residents to return to their homes and urged evacuees and those stranded by flooding to stay put. State police and Department of Homeland Security personnel are blocking re-entry routes to all non-emergency workers and some violators have already been arrested. A shooting was reported in the West Bank area of New Orleans and some looting continues.
New Orleans floodwaters continued to rise today after a two block long section of the Lake Pontchartrain levee gave way. Approximately 80 percent of the city is flooded. During the storm a 50-inch water main was severed, cutting off some of the drinking water leading to advisories that residents should boil water.
In Mississippi, streets and homes were flooded as far as six miles inland. Waters had receded slightly in Biloxi, but downed trees and debris still litter the streets.
The Alabama National Guard has activated 450 troops in Mobile to carry out a dusk to dawn curfew after large sections of the city were submerged in water from Mobile Bay. Another 800 troops, were activated to assist in Mississippi.
Over 1.7 million homes and businesses in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida are still without electricity. Energy has over 1 million customers without power in Louisiana and Mississippi; Alabama Power has over 500,000 without power (Birmingham 182,000; Montgomery 8,530; Tuscaloosa 132,000; and Mobile 195,716); and Mississippi Power has only one transmission line still in service. Most cell towers and land line phones are out of service with no estimate for restoration.
FEMA is reporting some of the worst damage they've ever seen and is making preparations to house tens of thousands of victims for several months. The American Red Cross is launching it's largest relief operation in its history.
Stay tuned
The Company will continue to update this story on an as needed basis. Please check back for more updates.
Chad Huggins ("The Chad")