Energy companies that have been either directly or indirectly affected by the destruction from Hurricane Katrina have contributed millions of dollars so far to the American Red Cross to fund relief efforts.

Chevron Corp. said it has committed $5 million to support recovery efforts in the communities affected by the hurricane, including $3 million to the American Red Cross for disaster relief efforts in Louisiana, Mississippi and other affected areas, and $2 million to local charities and relief efforts near Chevron businesses in the affected states.

Chevron, which has about 3,000 employees in the areas hardest hit by Katrina, also has set up a toll-free number, (800) 334-3963, for its employees in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to alert the company about their status. The company has production operations in the hurricane-ravaged Gulf of Mexico, and refinery operations along the coast.

ExxonMobil Corp. has contributed $2 million for disaster relief to the Red Cross in the aftermath of the hurricane. The Irving, TX-based producer and refiner, along with affiliates and its joint venture, Chalmette Refining, also have created an assistance phone line (877 294-8617) for employees who have been displaced from their homes by the hurricane to receive assistance.

Refiner and producer Amerada Hess Corp. said it has donated $1 million to the Red Cross, and has agreed to match individual employee donations to the Red Cross for use in responding to the tragedy. Los Angeles, CA-based Occidental Petroleum also has contributed $1 million to the Red Cross, and said it will match all individual employee donations to the Red Cross.

Energy giant Duke Energy, through The Duke Energy Foundation, reported it has committed up to $200,000 to the American Red Cross for relief efforts. The foundation will contribute $100,000 to the Red Cross, and has set aside another $100,000 to match donations made by Duke Energy employees and retirees through the end of September. Duke Energy has natural gas pipelines operations in the affected region.

And New Jersey Natural Gas, the principal subsidiary of New Jersey Resources, said it has pledged $10,000 to the American Red Cross for relief efforts.

The Associated Press reported Wednesday that the Red Cross has so far raised $21 million, an amount comparable to that raised for tsunami victims following the devastation in Asia earlier this year. Of that amount, $15 million has come from individual contributions through the Red Cross website, with the rest from corporations, the Red Cross said.

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