Discount giant steps up hurricane relief efforts — again
Walmart is allocating more funds to hurricane relief.
The discount giant announced that it will donate another $5 million in support of Hurricane Maria relief. This is in addition to its previous commitment of $35 million in response to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
The new funds will support organizations helping with local relief efforts in Puerto Rico. In addition, Walmart is championing its own programs to aid victims — including effected associates — on the island. For example, with a network of 45 retail facilities in Puerto Rico, including two distribution centers and a satellite headquarters, Walmart is providing associates disaster assistance along with their regular paychecks.
The retailer is also centralizing efforts through Walmart Emergency Operations Centers (EOC). In addition to operating 24 hours a day tracking storm impacts and supporting associates’ needs and well-being, the EOCs also facilitate store recovery, and support community relief efforts on the island.
Besides interacting with FEMA, the American Red Cross, and other partners, Walmart has also sent communications specialists, electricians and other skilled support teams to Puerto Rico to help stores and club locations recover quickly. These efforts have helped re-open approximately 20 stores and five club locations, along with nearly a dozen pharmacies, according to Walmart.
In addition, the discounter plans to continue opening facilities under limited hours and metered access, a move that will control lines and deliver more security for customers. To ensure these locations are well-stocked, Walmart is using corporate jets to deliver emergency insulin, while ships transporting other critical freight departed Florida earlier this week.
To date, hundreds of loads of water, emergency supplies and other needed resources, like generators, have been delivered over the last several days. More supplies will be sent before the end of this week, the company said.
Merchandise is being sent to both open stores and those that are able to accept deliveries safely.
“Our associates and friends in Puerto Rico are in significant need,” said Kathleen McLaughlin, president of the Walmart Foundation and chief sustainability officer for Walmart Stores, Inc. “We want to do all we can to help, not only with immediate hurricane assistance, but in the long term, knowing that there are many challenging days of recovery and rebuilding ahead.”
The discount giant announced that it will donate another $5 million in support of Hurricane Maria relief. This is in addition to its previous commitment of $35 million in response to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
The new funds will support organizations helping with local relief efforts in Puerto Rico. In addition, Walmart is championing its own programs to aid victims — including effected associates — on the island. For example, with a network of 45 retail facilities in Puerto Rico, including two distribution centers and a satellite headquarters, Walmart is providing associates disaster assistance along with their regular paychecks.
The retailer is also centralizing efforts through Walmart Emergency Operations Centers (EOC). In addition to operating 24 hours a day tracking storm impacts and supporting associates’ needs and well-being, the EOCs also facilitate store recovery, and support community relief efforts on the island.
Besides interacting with FEMA, the American Red Cross, and other partners, Walmart has also sent communications specialists, electricians and other skilled support teams to Puerto Rico to help stores and club locations recover quickly. These efforts have helped re-open approximately 20 stores and five club locations, along with nearly a dozen pharmacies, according to Walmart.
In addition, the discounter plans to continue opening facilities under limited hours and metered access, a move that will control lines and deliver more security for customers. To ensure these locations are well-stocked, Walmart is using corporate jets to deliver emergency insulin, while ships transporting other critical freight departed Florida earlier this week.
To date, hundreds of loads of water, emergency supplies and other needed resources, like generators, have been delivered over the last several days. More supplies will be sent before the end of this week, the company said.
Merchandise is being sent to both open stores and those that are able to accept deliveries safely.
“Our associates and friends in Puerto Rico are in significant need,” said Kathleen McLaughlin, president of the Walmart Foundation and chief sustainability officer for Walmart Stores, Inc. “We want to do all we can to help, not only with immediate hurricane assistance, but in the long term, knowing that there are many challenging days of recovery and rebuilding ahead.”