A Historic Year for Disasters

This year has been unprecedented in many ways. The world has grappled with the pandemic, and in response, the Caterpillar Foundation committed $10 million to support global COVID-19 response activities and help organizations that have been impacted. In addition, we’ve experienced a historic year for natural disasters. So far in 2020, the Caterpillar Foundation’s disaster partner, the American Red Cross, has responded to 233 large-scale disasters in the United States. And around the world, the organization, together with its global Red Cross partners, has helped people affected by 17 major crises. 

As part of its focus on building resilient communities, for the last several years, the Caterpillar Foundation has invested $2 million annually in the Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP). This program provides a funding base that allows the Red Cross to respond immediately to the needs of individuals and families impacted by disasters. This model has proven to be efficient and effective in immediately meeting disaster relief needs, ensuring the Red Cross has the funds to prepare for disasters before they occur.  

Separate from the Foundation’s support, the global Caterpillar team – including our Cat® dealers – are there to help in the aftermath of disasters. From providing emergency backup power and equipment for rescue and recovery efforts to helping communities rebuild once danger has passed, our team is there. 

Over the decades, Caterpillar and the Caterpillar Foundation have been there to help those most in need around the world when disasters strike. We are committed to helping build stronger communities, and ultimately, a better world. 

Here's a look back at some of this year’s major natural disasters Caterpillar and the Caterpillar Foundation have supported. 

Caterpillar Foundation Infographic
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Caterpillar Foundation Infographic

January 2020: Australia bushfires

Beginning in late 2019 and continuing into January, bushfires raged across Australia, taking lives, destroying homes and devasting more than 40 million acres of land and the region’s wildlife. In response, the Foundation announced a $250,000 donation to the Australian Red Cross, in addition to its ADGP support. 

Caterpillar’s support extended beyond the Foundation. Cat dealers provided financial and product support, with in kind support of rental equipment and on-call field service for equipment used in the crisis efforts. Both Caterpillar and dealers also provided various paid arrangement for Emergency Service employees. 

Australia bushfires
Australia bushfires

March 2020: Nashville tornadoes

Tornadoes and heavy storms swept through Nashville, resulting in fatalities and widespread destruction. Thankfully, Financial Products Division’s headquarters building did not experience severe damage; however, some of our employees experienced damage to their homes.   

Nashville tornadoes
Nashville tornadoes

August 2020: Lebanon explosion

A deadly explosion rocked the capital city of Beirut, killing more than 150 people, injuring thousands of others and destroying buildings and shattering windows in nearby neighborhoods for miles. Hundreds of thousands of people were displaced from their homes following the disaster. 

A team of 50 volunteers from Cat® dealer Jallad joined the clean-up efforts. The team cleared away debris from damaged buildings and swept the streets. Multiple Cat machines, including skid-steers, backhoe loaders and trucks, were also brought in to assist with clean up in some of the most heavily affected areas. The Jallad team also donated personal protective equipment and supported hospitals nearby hospitals who rely on our gensets to support their operations. 

Lebanon explosion
Lebanon explosion

August 2020: Midwest derecho

A rare and dangerous derecho storm brought wind gusts that topped 100 mph in some areas and spent more than 14 hours moving across a large part of the Midwest from Nebraska to Illinois. Communities in Iowa and Illinois took the brunt of the impact with more than 2,000 homes destroyed or left with major damage in Iowa alone. Red Cross disaster workers worked tirelessly—on the ground and virtually—to support these devastated communities.

Midwest derecho
Midwest derecho

August 2020: Western U.S. wildfires

Dangerous and deadly western wildfires began burning with record-setting intensity, with blazes upending lives in communities from Montana to Southern California. Tens of thousands of people had to evacuate, not knowing if their homes would still be standing when they returned. In California, six of the 20 largest wildfires in state history occurred. In Oregon, more than 10% of the state’s population was under mandatory evacuation orders as wildfires burned more than 900,000 acres over just three days—nearly twice the amount that burns on average in an entire year. The Red Cross worked nonstop with its partners to ensure people had a place to stay, food to eat and help coping with the fear and uncertainty brought on by these crises.

The Electric Power Division (EPD) also donated 165 Cat® gensets to Assist International, an organization based in California helping with humanitarian relief efforts in the United States and throughout the world. Learn more about EPD’s donation here. 

Western U.S. wildfires
Western U.S. wildfires

August 2020: Hurricane Laura

Hurricane Laura pounded communities in Southwest Louisiana and East Texas, dealing a powerful blow to families in its wake. Thousands saw their homes severely damaged or completely destroyed, and the Category 4 hurricane’s strong winds inflicted catastrophic damage to infrastructure.

The Foundation’s ADGP investment enabled the Red Cross to support emergency housing efforts, food, emotional support and health services, as well as provide emergency financial assistance to those whose homes were severely impacted.

Hurricane Laura
Hurricane Laura

September 2020: Sudan flooding

For more multiple months, heavy rainfall persisted in several regions across Sudan resulting in flooding in 16 of the 18 States. Houses, infrastructure and crops were destroyed leaving the population vulnerable and at risk of hunger and disease. Thousands of families were left homeless, and more than 100,000 homes were carried away by the floods while over 100 lives were lost. Food crops were destroyed; there was no access to clean drinking water; and exposure to water and vector borne disease was high. 

To help the Sudanese Red Crescent provide assistance, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched an emergency appeal focused on providing support to the immediate and long-term recovery (e.g. shelter, health and care, safe water, proper sanitation, etc.) needs to at least 200,000 people affected by the flooding. 

Sudan flooding
Sudan flooding

November 2020: Hurricane Eta

Hurricane Eta brought heavy rainfall and flooding, most heavily impacting Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala. Additional impacts were felt across Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica and Panama. Significant rainfall caused landslides, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people and causing significant damage to infrastructure and homes throughout Central America. 

Red Cross teams across Central America have provided humanitarian relief to thousands of people affected, supporting the evacuation of families, providing mental and health services and distributing relief supplies, such as household items and water purification pumps. 

Photo credit: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Red Cross
Red Cross

How you can help. 

Did you know the Caterpillar Foundation matches employee, retiree and dealer employee contributions to the American Red Cross? To ensure your contribution is eligible for the match, click here to make your donation.  

 

Some of the images used in this communication were taken prior to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

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