Oil Companies Pitch In to Help Louisiana Flooding Victims

BATON ROUGE, La. — In what’s being called the worst U.S. natural disaster since Superstorm Sandy, devastating Louisiana floods have destroyed 40,000 homes and 86,000 people for filed for federal aid.

Justin Alford of Benny’s Car Wash and B-Quik Convenience Store told NACS, the Association for Convenience & Fuel Retailing, that it lost an entire facility to three feet of water. And although all employees are safe, 100 employees have lost their homes.

In addition, actor and convenience retailer Wendell Pierce told CNN that he lost his home to the disaster.

In response to the disaster, companies with convenience store ties have announced donations in the wake of the floods. Exxon Mobil Corp. pledged to donate $500,000 while Shell Oil Co. and Motiva Enterprises LLC teamed up to donate an additional $500,000. Both companies have also announced that they will match employee contributions.

ExxonMobil and Shell, which have major presences in Louisiana, are making donations to the American Red Cross. ExxonMobil is also providing assistance to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, while Shell and Motiva are providing assistance to the Capital Area United Way, as well as other organizations.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with our friends and neighbors in Louisiana who have been impacted by storms and severe flooding in the region," Rex Tillerson, Exxon chairman and CEO, said in a news release. “We hope that this donation will help provide some relief to Louisianans as recovery efforts begin."