Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Prioritizing Safety Through a Natural Disaster

Jul 8, 2022 12:00 PM ET
Campaign: DuPont Sustainability Report
a worker in an industrial setting, cranes and scaffolding in the background
two workers in hard hats look into a facility, one holds an e-device
two people holding Styrofoam boxes and drinks outside a cloth tent
three people in hard hats and reflective vests standing outside a fenced area of large electrical equipment, holding papers and walkie-talkies

In August of 2021, our Pontchartrain Water & Protection manufacturing facility in La Place, Louisiana was severely impacted by Hurricane Ida. The site experienced excessive flooding and hurricane force winds of over 100 mph as the eyewall of the hurricane passed directly over the site. Power and potable water to the site were lost for an extended period. 

Due to the high potential for hurricanes in this area, the site regularly conducts preparedness activities to safely shut down site operations, protect employees during and after a storm and contribute to community recovery when direct hits like Hurricane Ida occur.

Approach

DuPont Pontchartrain executed its hurricane response plan 5 days before storm impact. This plan included:

  • All DuPont assets were shut down and placed in a safe operating state prior to the storm’s approach
  • All non-essential employees were evacuated except for a ride-out team to ensure environmental safety
  • 4 days before the storm impact, we activated the Corporate North America Natural Disaster (NAND) team. This team is charged with fully leveraging company resources to support sites with potential impacts from natural disasters.

Employee and contractor safety

The NAND team, with crucial support from the DuPont procurement organization, proactively mobilized back-up for employees at their homes, including portable generators, humidifiers, food, water and other essential supplies which arrived at our site one day after the storm.

A base camp providing hot meals, showers and restrooms was delivered to the site within two days and expanded to accommodate more people when needed. Base camp services were offered to our contractors and third-party tenants to aid in their recovery.

Result

  • The site reported no environmental releases and only minimal damage to the facility, though the need for tree removal was substantial
  • Operations resumed less than one month later when power and water were restored to the facility
  • Travel trailers were delivered for temporary use by employees who lost access to their homes
  • DuPont donated to the local United Way agency of St. Johns Parish, LA to aid in community recovery

For more stories, visit DuPont’s Sustainability Stories Hub.

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