BENTONVILLE, Ark., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Information on Katrina's impact on Wal-Mart and the company's aid to storm victims is available for journalists and the general public on http://www.walmartfacts.com/.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010831/WALMARTLOGO ) Facilities -- Of the 126 facilities that were originally shut down, 14 stores and clubs remain closed. -- A total of 89 facilities have reported damage. Nine have major damage, 41 moderate, and 39 minor damage or loss of merchandise. In-Store and On-Line Assistance -- Today, Wal-Mart made available its gift registry kiosks for anyone displaced by the hurricane to sign up for items they need. It allows those across the country wishing to contribute items to do so. -- The on-line Emergency Contact Service established through in-store kiosks and on-line via walmart.com and samsclub.com is helping the public to locate and communicate with their friends and family members. So far it has received more than 11,000 postings and more than 1 million hits. Wal-Mart Associates -- Initially, more than 34,000 Wal-Mart associates were displaced by Hurricane Katrina. So far, we have been in contact with 87% of these associates to learn they are working or safe. -- Our goal is to help associates get back on their feet and move forward with their lives. The Wal-Mart Emergency Information Line, established to answer associates questions and concerns, has fielded more than 15,000 calls. - Any displaced associate can come and work in any other U.S. Wal-Mart store. Thus far, these associates have been transposed and are working from stories as far away as Alaska, California and Nevada, with many more in neighboring states of Georgia, Texas, and Florida. - Displaced associates are eligible for up to $1,000 from our Associate Disaster Relief Fund if their homes were flooded or destroyed. We have already provided cash assistance to more than 6,100 associates, totaling more than $3.6 million in associate relief. Merchandise -- The company has dispatched more than 2,380 trailer loads of water and emergency supplies to Wal-Mart and SAM'S CLUB locations in the affected areas. Donations -- More than $3 million of product and water (more than 100 trailer loads) has been donated to shelters and others in the impacted areas. Many of these product donations -- diapers, toothbrushes, wipes and other personal products -- were given to assist evacuees arriving in large numbers at numerous Red Cross shelters earlier this week. -- Wal-Mart has donated the use of 17 vacant facilities to various relief agencies. More buildings are being evaluated for potential uses. These are free of charge and we are picking up utility costs. -- Stores have provided products free of charge in hard hit areas, such as Pass Christian and Waveland, Mississippi, where other assistance could not arrive. Truckloads of water, ice and dry food were sent to the parking lots of stores to distribute to residents in conjunction with National Guard. A mobile pharmacy has also been established in Waveland, MS since the store is not yet open. -- We have donated more than 150 computers to Red Cross Shelters, giving access to evacuees to reach to communicate through the internet. -- Customers can still donate at all store and clubs or online to the Red Cross, Salvation Army and Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund through (http://www.walmartfacts.com/, http://www.walmart.com/, http://www.walmartfoundation.org/, http://www.walmartstores.com/, http://www.samsclub.com/). -- Wal-Mart has donated $17 million in cash to aid emergency relief efforts: - $15 million to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund - $1 million Salvation Army - $1 million to the American Red Cross. -- More than $3 million has been collected in public contributions made directly by customers at our 3,800 Wal-Mart and SAM'S CLUB locations. These dollars will be donated to emergency relief efforts. (Downloadable photos now available as well on http://www.walmartfacts.com/)
CONTACT: Tara Stewart, +1-479-273-4314, or Melissa O'Brien, +1-479-273-4314, or Christi Gallagher, all of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Web site: http:/// http://www.walmartfacts.com/
Web site: http://www.walmartstores.com/
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