bekindtostrangers

I was checking my work mail yesterday...

Gulf Coast employees safe and accounted for

Message from [El Presidente]:

Hurricane Ike made landfall in Galveston, Texas, at 2:10 a.m. on Saturday, September 13, as a Category 2 storm, its 110 mph winds and battering waves causing widespread damage to homes and businesses throughout the area.

As you know, our Gulf Coast regional office in Galveston closed early on Thursday to allow employees the time needed to evacuate. Fortunately, all of our employees who report to the Gulf Coast office are safe and accounted for.

Of these employees, 26 lived on Galveston Island and their homes likely sustained damage. Our company is providing financial assistance to the displaced employees in the aftermath of the storm, with plans underway to establish an “Employee Hurricane Relief Fund.”

Because no one is allowed access to Galveston Island, the extent of the damage to our office building is not known. There is currently no electricity on the island and officials have estimated that it may not be restored for some time.

Our Gulf Coast managers are meeting daily via conference calls and making arrangements for employees to resume their regular duties as soon as possible. Options include temporarily relocating to the New Orleans, Denver or Cedar Rapids offices; working in leased office space in southeast Texas; or working from home.

We want our Gulf Coast employees to know that our thoughts are with them and their family members as they begin to deal with this devastating natural disaster. Though it may seem impossible at this time, you will recover from this – and we will help.

An employee hotline is being established to keep our employees affected by the hurricane up-to-date on the situation. We will also keep you informed of any news as it becomes available.

Now maybe they'll understand what we went through and stop bitching at us for being a bunch of lazy bitches.

Is it wrong that that was the first thing on my mind?

Also, these hurricanes are getting all this national coverage and we--a major Midwest city, who was under eight feet of water for a full week -- got ten minutes on GMA, a 3 minute spot on CNN and a 4 minute spot on ABC World News?