Vitro activates a relief plan after the damage caused by Hurricane Alex in Nuevo

Whenever the local community cries out for urgent help Vitro and its employees are ready to respond and jump into action to give a helping hand and this particular occasion was no exception after the severe flooding and heavy damage from the passing of Hurricane “Alex” over the state of Nuevo Leon.

“In response to the emergency we acted swiftly to implement a support plan to facilitate aid to those people most affected by the storm particularly our employees and their families that constitute an important part of our workforce in the municipality of Garcia”, comments Javier Uriegas, Vitro’s VP-Human Development and Quality.

He adds that the coordination was exceptional in order to have achieved the immediate installation of 12 collection centers located in the company installations in the metropolitan areas of Monterrey, Mexico City, Toluca, Guadalajara and Queretaro.

“Thanks to the determination and enthusiastic participation by Vitro’s employees that joined the campaign, we were able to gather 10 tons of bottled water, food, clothing, medicines and personal hygiene items that were distributed to those most in need”, he assures us. The aid plan also contemplated the implementation of a fund for cash donations from employees to aid those who were hit hardest either to their own health or their homes.

“We went to great lengths to be flexible in our policies and benefits from the Internal Savings Fund for those employees who were affected by the hurricane and we were able to advance some of the benefits for those employees in dire need”, points out Cesar Garcia, Human Resources and Social Security Manager.

The medical departments in Vitro’s plants worked around the clock to attend our personnel for both preventive and corrective medicine needs for skin problems, derived from contact with contaminated water, gastrointestinal problems and dengue among others.

“Convinced that direct efforts undertaken in those areas most in need are the best way to help the community, the company donated a 20,000 liter potable water tank truck that was distributed by the local DIF authorities among the population”, he comments.

In complete coordination with authorities and local residents a special work force was put together to help in clean up efforts of trees, branches and landslides on the highway to Laguna de Sanchez, in the section from Puerto El Manzano to Nogalera. 9 kilometers of highway were cleaned up and reopened for access to the Cienega de Gonzalez.

“Times have not been easy but teamwork has allowed us to contribute our grain of sand in a show of solidarity and reaffirmation of our sense of social responsibility towards helping those most suffering and in need whether it be with health issues or loss of material goods”, he concludes.