Chlorine Industry Responds To Crises Following Hurricane Mitch

In November, the Chlorine Chemistry Division of the American Chemistry Council's Water Relief Network facilitated a major donation of water disinfectants and vinyl plastic sheeting to help the American Red Cross combat the public health crisis in Central America following Hurricane Mitch. This donation will treat millions of gallons of water and provide temporary shelter to thousands of Central Americans left homeless by the most deadly storm to hit the hemisphere in 200 years.

During the height of Hurricane Mitch, most water disinfection plants and transport systems in Honduras and Nicaragua were severely damaged or destroyed. In response, the Water Relief Network provided 20 tons of calcium hypochlorite to destroy harmful bacteria in water supplies.

The Chlorine Chemistry Division of the American Chemistry Council has also provided several thousand pounds of vinyl plastic sheeting. The sheeting will provide temporary shelter to those most severely affected by Mitch's wrath. Approximately 3 million people--10 percent of all Central Americans--have lost or been evacuated from their homes.

Kip Howlett, Executive Director of the Chlorine Chemistry Division of the American Chemistry Council, noted, "The Water Relief Network's donation of chlorine has provided an immediate response to this severe public health crisis and has assisted in averting any further loss of life in this deadly storm's aftermath."

The Water Relief Network, a program of the Chlorine Chemistry Division of the American Chemistry Council in cooperation with the American Red Cross, assists relief efforts through donations of chlorine-based products necessary for communities worldwide to recover from disasters. More than 50 U.S. corporations participate in the Network by donating water disinfection chemicals, plastic water bottles, vinyl pipe and pipe fittings, surface disinfectants and plastic sheeting.

The Water Relief Network is part of the Chlorine Chemistry Division of the American Chemistry Council's "Partnership for Humanity" program, which supports water relief, education and housing programs for the needy and disadvantaged. For more information, see http://www.c3.org/news_center/index.html

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