OREANDA-NEWS. August 26, 2016. PotashCorp announced today it is donating US \\$100,000 to the Louisiana Capital-West Chapter of the American Red Cross to support relief efforts in Louisiana, where flooding has damaged or destroyed more than 60,000 homes and left thousands seeking emergency shelter.

The hardest hit areas of the state received about 75 centimetres (30 inches) of rainfall in three days earlier this month, in what is being described as a once-in-1,000-years rain. The American Red Cross said this week the situation remains critical and called for additional financial assistance for the state, where 13 people have been killed by the floods.  

PotashCorp employs 175 people at its nitrogen and phosphate plant in Geismar, Louisiana, located about 35 kilometres (20 miles) south of Baton Rouge in Ascension Parish. More than two dozen employees who live in the Ascension and Iberville parishes have reported that their homes were affected by the flood.

“This is a devastating event for our employees and neighbors and for all of Louisiana. People need help right now,” said Jochen Tilk, PotashCorp’s President and CEO. “The Red Cross is on the ground and is working with residents to help them through this catastrophe; we want to support this crucial work.”

“We are grateful that PotashCorp has stepped up to make this contribution to our relief efforts,” said Merri Alessi, Executive Director of the Louisiana Capital-West Chapter of the Red Cross. “It is going to take a true team effort to rebuild our communities.”

In addition to its donation to the Red Cross, PotashCorp also made a US \\$50,000 donation last week to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, which was severely damaged by flood water and was forced into a temporary location.

PotashCorp is also matching employee donations to the American Red Cross and other organizations supporting flood relief in the state. “We know our employees in Louisiana and beyond want to reach out to those affected by this disaster, to let them know we care and want to help them through this,” said Lee Knafelc, Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Administration at PotashCorp.