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Diageo Dispatches Hurricane Gustav Disaster Aid |
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Thursday, 04 September 2008 |
Diageo, the world's leading spirits, beer and wine company, donated and delivered two high-powered generators and truck loads of Diageo bottled water to Baton Rouge and Abbeville, La. The two cities were hit hard by Hurricane Gustav and declared top priority sites by Gov. Bobby Jindal's office.
The generators and water are part of Diageo's Spirit of the Americas Humanitarian Aid program. Established in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the Spirit of the Americas program provides immediate relief and disaster aid around the world.
A 250 kilowatts (kw) generator is providing life-sustaining power to the infirm and critical patients at Capitol Home Rehabilitation and Nursing, a nursing home in Baton Rouge. Because many of the patients have immediate medical needs and their lives are dependent on medical devices and ventilators, the governor's office deemed this facility as a top priority in the state. Without this support, officials would have had to evacuate these critical need patients to already overcrowded hospitals. A team of Diageo representatives delivered the generator and worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help set up and connect it.
"The generator that was delivered by Diageo proved to be the difference, literally, between life and death for many of our patients," said Patrick Rambin, the nursing home administrator at Capitol House Rehabilitation and Nursing. "Once the generator was installed, our oxygen systems were fully functional and we were able to keep the patients on the premises while preserving their quality of life. Our staff and our patients are truly grateful for the support and the generator Diageo provided."
The 175 kw generator is operating at the Vermillion Parish Sheriff's Office Command Center and Parish Administration building in Abbeville, La. The building is critical in restoring the area's emergency communications capabilities, and the generator is ensuring administration officials are fully functional as the back end of the storm passes through the region.
Ivan Menezes, Diageo North America's president and CEO said, "Diageo has been in constant touch with Governor Jindal's office to determine the areas with the most critical need for generators and potable water. We will continue to work closely with the Governor's office to ensure these resources are meeting the needs of the victims of Hurricane Gustav."
In addition to these generators, Diageo also facilitated the delivery of needed bottled water to an emergency distribution center established by Gov. Jindal's office at the Capitol Building in Baton Rouge. From there, relief workers and officials distributed the water a high priority neighborhood whose residents were stranded without clean drinking water and power. All told, crews brought more than 176,000 gallons of water to the area, all of which was warehoused and distributed by Georgia Crown Distributing. Don Leebern, president of Georgia Crown Distributing, and his team have been instrumental in getting the bottled water to this key location. |
