ExxonMobil Increases Harvey Flood Relief Support to $9.5 million

ExxonMobil Corporation (XOM) has increased its financial commitment for Hurricane Harvey relief to up to $9.5 million, which includes a new employee and retiree donation match program and in-kind donations to the American Red Cross for recovery efforts in South Texas. The increased support builds on $1 million in previous contributions to the American Red Cross and United Way of Greater Houston.

ExxonMobil is working to limit the disruption of fuel supplies in the region caused by shutdowns of refining and transportation infrastructure due to weather and flooding. Efforts are underway to transport refined products from unaffected regions to communities and customers in the most severely impacted markets. The company is working to re-establish normal operations and replenish fuel supplies as safely and quickly as possible. In the meantime, consumers are encouraged to be conservative with fuel use to help preserve supplies for first responders and other critical users.

“Our thoughts and sympathies remain with our colleagues, families, friends and neighbours in communities suffering from the storm’s effects. Our primary focus remains the safety and security of our employees, facilities and neighbours in Houston, Beaumont and other impacted areas,” said Darren Woods, chairman and CEO.

The company is assessing its upstream, downstream and chemical facilities located along the Texas Gulf Coast.

Refining, supply and chemical operations

Impact assessments are underway at ExxonMobil’s Baytown complex, which has safely shut down the majority of its operations. There have been no reports of oil or gasoline leakage from the complex. The nearby Mont Belvieu plastics plant is also shut down.

The company’s Beaumont refinery and chemical plants have completed safe and systematic shut down of their operations.

ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge refining and chemical facilities are operating as normal.

The company is actively monitoring emissions as a result of the storm and remains in close contact with neighbouring communities regarding safety and environmental issues.

Oil and natural gas production

ExxonMobil’s Hoover and Galveston 209 platforms in the Gulf of Mexico remain shut in, and crews are in the process of assessing those operations. Systems are safe and operational at the Hadrian South subsea production system in the Gulf, and production start-up operations are underway.

ExxonMobil subsidiary XTO Energy previously shut in production that was in the direct line of the storm. Crews have been assessing impacts to those operations and are beginning to resume production.

Houston campus

To support the safety of employees, their families and neighbours, ExxonMobil’s Houston campus will remain closed through 1 Sept except for critical emergency response and recovery personnel.

Employee communications and support

To support employees, the company is working to locate hotel rooms for impacted personnel and helping provide resources for home cleanup and recovery. Health and counselling services are also being provided to those employees who wish to take advantage of these programs.

ExxonMobil’s disaster assistance zero-interest loan program is available for employees living in Texas counties designated as federal disasters who incurred damage to personal property due to the storm.

Various hotlines providing updated information are available to employees across different geographical locations, and the company has activated its automated employee tracking system to help ensure their safety and well-being.

Non-essential staff have been encouraged to remain at home to avoid potentially dangerous road conditions, and all employees have been asked to maintain consistent communication with supervisors regarding their status, safety and any additional weather-related challenges they may be experiencing.

ExxonMobil is advising employees in impacted areas to stay tuned to news and government updates, as well as travel advisories to receive the most current information.

Volunteerism and in-kind support

ExxonMobil also has donated $2.3 million in advertising time to the Red Cross that will be dedicated to high-profile televised public service announcements.

And crews from ExxonMobil’s proposed petrochemical project with SABIC in South Texas have begun cleaning up debris from Hurricane Harvey. The project, Gulf Coast Growth Ventures, diverted a project subcontractor from site preparation work to provide heavy equipment and local workers to Gregory, Portland, Ingleside and surrounding communities to assist with post-storm cleanup efforts.

Bay Ltd, subcontracted by Amec Foster Wheeler, will conduct civil and site maintenance work for the Gulf Coast Growth Ventures Project as it progresses.