Convenience & Fuel Industry Comes to Aid of Hurricane Harvey Victims

NATIONAL REPORT — Not long after Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas on Aug. 25, the convenience and fuel industry stepped up to lend a helping hand to those affected by the Category 4 storm.

Harvey has been downgraded to a tropical storm but the damage is expected to grow as the storm lingers over the southeastern side of the state bringing as much as 50 inches of rain.

In response to the storm, Atlas Oil sent its Emergency Fueling Response Team to assist with recovery efforts and to help ensure that first responders have access to fuel.

The Taylor, Mich.-based company has dozens of fuel trucks deployed to Southeastern Texas as a "wave one" deployment. Atlas is staging additional trucks and drivers from Texas and around the country to help with the relief efforts depending upon the severity of the storm, or "wave two," according to the company.

As Hurricane Harvey developed in the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlas team assembled in the mission control room out of its headquarters and prepared for a potential deployment.

"Our first priority was to ensure the safety of our team members," said Bob Kenyon, president and chief operating officer at Atlas Oil. "Our Houston and Victoria offices were in the direct path of the storm, and we have frac fueling teams throughout Texas supporting drilling operations in the region."

As the storm weakens and first responders are able to survey the area over the next several days, Atlas is preparing to deploy as many trucks and drivers as necessary to support the needs of the region.  

"With fuel terminals in the Houston region shut down, Atlas, a nationwide company, has access to millions of gallons of relief fuel in Texas and around the nation to satisfy our customers and the needs of a potential recovery effort. Our team will be available for fuel services to both the public and private sectors," the company noted.

Atlas Oil's Emergency Services division has a history of responding to emergencies such as power outages caused by storms. The company frequently fills generators for hospitals, data centers, utilities, telecommunications and other mission critical companies.     

During Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Atlas deployed more than 75 trucks and drivers partnering with the Federal Emergency Management Agency's emergency fuel contractors to get the fuel where it was needed the most to restore the area's infrastructure and support first responders.  

"Our experienced team is prepared to respond at a moment's notice," said Jayme Oyen, director of Emergency Fuel Services at Atlas Oil. "All of the various team members know exactly what to do and we have drivers on standby prepared to deploy when called upon."

In addition to Atlas Oil, the American Red Cross announced that 7-Eleven Inc. would match all donations made to the organization over the next 24-hour period on Sunday, Aug. 27. The Irving, Texas-based retailer is matching the donations dollar-for-dollar up to $150,000.

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