Sharing Works
Despite the wrath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita this fall, the holiday spirit still came to Sabine Pass, Texas, and Hackberry, La., this year, thanks to a special Santa: Sempra Energy.
With three projects in the Gulf Coast area—the Port
Arthur liquefied natural gas (LNG) receipt
terminal in Texas, and the Cameron
LNG receipt terminal and Liberty
Gas Storage site in Louisiana—Sempra
Energy feels very much like part of the communities
there. And, as such, the company rolled up its
sleeves to pitch in during the crisis right
after the hurricanes hit and as part of the
ongoing rebuilding process—a process some
feel will last for years.
Holiday events
Often, when a natural disaster hits, much of the relief comes from local churches in the form of food, clothing and shelter. After Hurricane Rita came calling on the Texas-Louisiana border, however, most churches were either badly damaged or gone. Plus, few schools survived, and the ones that did were badly damaged.
If families have no place for their kids to go to school, they won't come back to live and work, so Sempra Energy took on the project of putting Hackberry School back together again by restoring physical-education facilities, classrooms, the gymnasium and the athletic playing field. Also, Sempra Energy contributed $10,000 to Sabine Pass High School to assist in its restoration and ongoing relief efforts.
Not only that, but Sempra Energy also sponsored holiday events for the residents of Sabine Pass and Hackberry at these repaired and revived schools on Dec. 7 and 9. Combined, more than 1,500 people enjoyed a tree-lighting ceremony and carols, received gift baskets and gift cards, and celebrated in a way they haven't been able to for at least the past few months. "It was the best turnout for any event we've ever had," says Kristi Heid, principal at Sabine Pass High School.
Bringing back business
Because Sempra Energy knows that a major factor in rebuilding a community is bringing back economic activity to the region, the company has been working with the local governments in Sabine Pass and Hackberry to help bring back businesses.
Just a few days after the storms hit, Sempra Energy brought in
a generator to help pump out 10 feet of water from Hackberry, as
well as equipment to help clear storm debris. Sempra Energy also
helped re-open the only restaurant within an hour of the hard hit
area and provided the trailer that houses a medical clinic now open
in Cameron Parish. To aid this effort, Bradley Canton, Cameron LNG's
construction manager, found contractors to repair the restaurant,
managed crews that removed fallen trees and supplied gasoline for
the generators.
Giving back
"One of our core corporate values at Sempra Energy is to give back to the communities where we live and work—and we mean it," says Kelly Prasser, corporate community relations manager. "We are committed to bringing our energy to help these communities rebuild. While many relief groups came in to help right after the hurricanes hit, we're here to stay."
