Sustainability in Disaster Response

Responding to Helene, Milton and Boris

Recently, as Hurricanes Helene and Milton were hitting the U.S., and in the Czech Republic, as Storm Boris overtook rural communities, Trane Technologies emergency management teams activated a sophisticated system that works alongside local authorities, to help account for and support our impacted employees with urgent needs like temporary housing, transportation, fuel, water and emergency relief funds. We did that for hundreds upon hundreds of employees. We are truly grateful to report that all of our teams are safe and accounted for. But we know there is a long road ahead, and financial support is much needed. For anyone wanting to help in a disaster, philanthropic support is a great way to be of assistance, and there are a number of options.

Trane Technologies has closely monitored the ongoing relief efforts. In the U.S., we’ve directed more than $500,000 of aid across the regions impacted by Hurricane Helene, including in Georgia where one of our manufacturing plants employs more than a thousand people. We are donating another $100,000 to a special relief fund erected by the Foundation for the Carolinas, specifically for the Western North Carolina region. We are donating $100,000 to the International Red Cross for victims of Storm Boris, and we are matching employee donations dollar for dollar to our Helping Hand global employee crisis relief fund, which makes grants of up to $2,500 available to impacted employees around the world. In addition to our institutional giving, in true Trane Technologies fashion, our employees around the world are leading drives, delivering fuel, housing colleagues, holding fundraisers, and going above and beyond in ways that are absolutely beautiful.

From relief to recovery

After the urgency of the initial crisis settles, these communities need to shift from relief to recovery.  And as a company that is committed to leading the way to a more sustainable future, the focus of our disaster support has shifted there, too. As with all that we do, we are looking down the road at the long term. We know that smart solutions require each region to take a purposeful pause to consider not just what was lost, but what they will need in order to thrive in the face of the realities they face today.

We want to help these communities rebuild in ways that consider the environment, economy and society. That may mean moving a bit slower, borrowing strategies and resources from other regions, and taking care to ensure that the voices of the more vulnerable and disengaged constituents are heard. But it will be worth it if we can look back in years to come and proudly say that not only did we survive these events, but we also worked together to create communities that are healthier, more resilient and more inclusive for generations to come.

This article originally appeared on LinkedIn.