Lowe's Companies

Support for Communities and Customers

Lowe's believes that community involvement extends beyond the boundaries of the traditional retail setting, whether it is helping with natural-disaster recovery or taking an active role in making its neighborhoods better places to live.

The Program

Lowe's participation in disaster preparedness and response involves supporting whole communities through its engagement with nonprofit partners and supporting customers by providing them with information and resources that help them confront natural disasters.

Supporting Nonprofit Partners

Lowe's has long-standing partnerships with both the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity International. In times of disaster, Lowe's provides the Red Cross with onsite volunteers, product donations, and funds. Lowe's and its customers and vendors have contributed more than $9 million to the Red Cross' recovery programs since 2000.

In 2006–2007, Lowe's and its vendors are providing $2.85 million to Habitat for Humanity's long-term Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts. Habitat is using the money across the Gulf to help Habitat affiliates with an assortment of projects from houses to new tools and supplies.

Supporting Customers

Lowe's knows that protecting families and homes is first priority when preventing, preparing for, or responding to disasters. The company offers numerous programs to assist customers with disaster preparation and recovery.

Community Education/Involvement — Lowe's helps educate homeowners by having a Web site devoted to storm preparation. Visitors to www.lowes.com/ hurricane can find how-to videos, tips for preparing the home in anticipation of severe weather, and a comprehensive guide to storm preparation and recovery. The videos cover such topics as generator use and safety, boarding windows, installing storm shutters, tarping roofs, and chain saw safety.

Lowe's in-store experts help customers with questions about preparing their homes for a natural disaster. Severe Weather Guides are also offered for free in stores and on the Lowe's Web site.

Through donations, rebuilding programs, and direct volunteering with individual communities and families, Lowe's employees from around the country have been part of the support and recovery process since immediately following Hurricane Katrina. For example, employees volunteered at the Houston Astrodome, caring for children while parents waited in line for much-needed supplies, including debit cards from the American Red Cross.

Customer Needs and Store Operations — Lowe's Emergency Command Center and regional distribution centers allow for quick and efficient response to customers' needs. Command Center team members work with local, state, and federal governments to determine the appropriate response needed in communities affected by a disaster. With a network of strategically located regional distribution centers throughout the United States, store shelves are quickly restocked with emergency supplies to help during preparation and recovery.

Lowe's stores are able to open within hours after a storm to meet the needs of the community. Each store is equipped with a back-up generator and can operate in the event of widespread loss of electricity.

In response to Hurricane Katrina, Lowe's activated Storm Recovery Teams in the hard-hit areas. Employee teams volunteered to work in disaster-affected areas so the local employees could focus on their personal  situations.

Katrina Cottages — Katrina Cottages, small, permanent homes designed as an alternative to FEMA trailers, were designed by architect Marianne Cusato for displaced residents and emergency workers. The cottages are built with the same quality materials and specifications as a full-size house, but are smaller to make them more affordable and easy to build. They are engineered to sustain hurricane-force winds. Lowe's is the retail partner involved in selling the plans and materials for the Katrina Cottages.

The Lessons Learned

Lowe's learned the lesson of disaster preparation back in 1989 after Hurricane Hugo, a storm of historic proportions at the time.

The corporate coordination and preparation required to effectively respond to this event led to the development of Lowe's Emergency Command Center. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Lowe's was energized to increase partnerships with federal, state, and local governments, as well as community organizations, to better respond to community needs.

The recovery period for communities affected by the 2005 hurricanes will be long and require long-term strategic planning and coordination.

Why Lowe's Is Involved

Lowe's has a rich history of community involvement across the country, from natural-disaster response to community improvement and education-based initiatives. Lowe's is committed to providing products, information, and expertise that contributes to building a culture of preparedness.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.lowes.com/

Additional Corporate Citizenship Programs Featured in BCLC's Disaster Recovery Report

Lowe's Partners:

American Red Cross 

Habitat for Humanity International