H-E-B Deploys Disaster Relief Unit to Laredo as it Prepares to Assist Area Residents Facing Severe Flooding

July 8, 2010 (San Antonio) – On Thursday morning, H-E-B deployed its Disaster Response Unit to Laredo, in preparation of offering on-site emergency relief aid in the area as the Rio Grande River continues to swell and the threat of severe flooding becomes imminent. 
 
The H-E-B Disaster Response Unit (DRU) will be staged at the H-E-B Laredo #5 store, located at 2310 E. Saunders St., where it will serve as the mobile command center for all Laredo area H-E-B stores. The DRU is a self-contained trailer custom-designed to respond during times of emergency and natural disasters. The DRU’s diesel generator provides all power necessary to operate all electronics on board including A/C, computers, printers, lighting, security and satellite transmitting/receiving.

Accompanying the deployment of the H-E-B DRU was the dispatch of two water tankers to provide clean water to residents, should their water supply become contaminated due to flooding.  
Additionally, the H-E-B Eddie Garcia Mobile Kitchen is being readied to join the DRU on standby at the H-E-B Laredo #5 store. The 45-foot-long food preparation facility is designed to serve approximately 2,200 meals per hour.

H-E-B’s disaster response team is calling on its extensive experience, honed and applied during numerous emergency situations including Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 and Hurricanes Ike and Dolly in 2008, to assess the situation and ready preparations.     

This is a critical time of need for this area. We are standing by and are fully prepared to offer any assistance the area and its residents may need in the coming days,” said Danny Flores, the Public Affairs Manager for H-E-B who is coordinating the company’s on-ground relief effort.

H-E-B’s emergency response began on Tuesday when the company delivered 88 pallets of gallon drinking water to the food bank in Acuna, Mexico (11,672 total gallons of water) and donated  300 cases of H-E-B Corn Flake Cereal boxes which it will help distribute to the community.

Additionally, the H-E-B store in Del Rio is donating supplies to the Acuna Food Bank  to prepare hot meals for those in shelters on the Mexico side of the border.

Said Del Rio Mayor Roberto “Bobby” Fernandez on the company’s emergency response,
“H-E-B is an asset to our community, a true partner in every sense of the word. We can always count on H-E-B for assistance during an emergency or to support other worthy causes in our Del Rio community.”

About H-E-B 

H-E-B, with sales of more than $15 billion operates more than 300 stores in Texas and Mexico.  Known for its innovation and community service, H-E-B celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005. Recognized for its fresh food, quality products, convenient services, and a commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability, H-E-B strives to provide the best customer experience at every day low prices. Based in San Antonio, H-E-B employs more than 70,000 Partners and serves millions of customers in more than 150 communities.