Vietnam veteran Frank Washington has lived this soggy nightmare before. In 2005 he lost his home in New Orleans to Hurricane Katrina. He relocated to Baton Rouge for a new start but disaster struck again when his home flooded during the historic August 2016 floods.

Entergy’s Veterans Employee Resource Group, working with Rebuilding Together Baton Rouge, rounded up volunteers to help repair Washington’s home. Employees and their families installed new floors, tile and doors. Entergy volunteers included Paul Hinnenkamp, Darryl Yoes, Ira Fields, Justin Rettstatt, Matthew Dossett and Perry Pertuit.

Employee resource groups give Entergy employees an opportunity to make an impact on issues affecting the entire workforce. The goal of the Veterans ERG is to establish Entergy as an industry leader in its support for veterans and active-duty employees with ties to the military.

BATON ROUGE, La. – In continuing its efforts to help Baton Rouge customers and community partners recover from last year’s devastating floods, Entergy has awarded grants totaling $225,000 to two nonprofits.

Entergy executives were joined Thursday by officials with the Baton Rouge Area Foundation to present grants to the Salvation Army of Baton Rouge and to SBP.�� The presentations were held at the Salvation Army location in the 7300 block of Airline Highway, where floodwater damaged the agency’s shelter and administrative offices.

Phillip May, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana, presents donations aimed at helping the ongoing recovery from last year’s historic floods to Elizabeth Egle of SBP and Capt. Brett Meredith of The Salvation Army of Greater Baton Rouge.

Entergy’s $100,000 donation to the Salvation Army officials will help the nonprofit repair its offices. Entergy’s donation of $125,000 to SBP will underwrite the rebuilding of flooded homes. SBP, formerly known as the St. Bernard Project, started its rebuilding work soon after Hurricane Katrina and has spread across the country.

In September 2016, Entergy contributed $300,000 to its donor-advised fund at the BRAF. The company is making grants from that fund to the two nonprofits. The Baton Rouge Area Foundation will deploy the remaining $50,000 of the original $300,000 grant from Entergy to continue providing aid to flood victims.

“The flooding impacted everyone in Baton Rouge, including Entergy buildings, offices and employees,” said Phillip May, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana. “We want to see everyone recover from this devastation as quickly as possible, and we are proud to partner with these outstanding nonprofit agencies to help with the rebuilding process.”

“We appreciate Entergy and others entrusting us with their flood relief contributions,” said John G. Davies, president and CEO of the Foundation. “We’ve made sure that flood relief donations are granted to organizations that are providing the greatest return to those in need, while also helping us rebuild stronger so we can stand up to future disasters.”

Since the flooding last August, Entergy has donated some $500,000 in flood relief contributions, including grants to the Baton Rouge Food Bank, the Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.

In addition, more than 400 Entergy employees, friends and family members logged 10,000-plus hours of volunteer service in response to flooding. About 360 of those were employees who volunteered more than 8,000 hours – an estimated value of $221,472 in labor. Dozens of other employees donated items to help in the flood relief efforts, while others helped sort and distribute items to those in need.

Entergy Louisiana, LLC provides electric service to more than 1 million customers and natural gas service to approximately 93,000 customers in the greater Baton Rouge area. With operations in southern, central and northeastern Louisiana, the company is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���.

���ϳԹ��� is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including nearly 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.9 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of approximately $10.8 billion and more than 13,000 employees.

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(Foundation) Mukul Verma
225-362-9260
mverma@braf.org

(Entergy)�� Michael Burns
504-576-4132
mburns@entergy.com��

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Donation will be quickly granted to nonprofits responding to historic flooding

���ϳԹ��� has contributed $300,000 to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s Louisiana Flood Relief Fund, which will be granted by the Foundation to local nonprofits that are responding to the biggest rainstorm in modern Louisiana history.

“We are grateful for Entergy’s gift to South Louisiana,” said John G. Davies, CEO and president of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. “The need is great, and this contribution will fund nonprofits that are filling gaps in relief and recovery.”

Four days of torrential rain produced massive flooding across South Louisiana. Places that had never flooded before went underwater. The deluge flooded and damaged more than 150,000 homes. Companies and people from across the country have provided millions in support to the residents of Louisiana. And people who live here have come together to help out each other.

“Before the flood waters had even begun to recede, our employees began asking what they could do to help. We began leveraging community partnerships, identifying opportunities and taking actions that we know power lives in times of greatest need,” said Phillip May, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana. “Resiliency is in our DNA. Time after time, our employees, customers, communities and company are tested by severe weather events. We know how to prepare and then bounce back. But it takes us all working together to be successful.”

The Foundation established the Louisiana Flood Relief Fund earlier this year to help people after the spring flooding in North Louisiana. It was opened with a $100,000 gift from the Foundation’s assets. Since then, the Foundation has raised more than $3.5 million for the charitable fund. More than 20 grants have been made to local nonprofits, including the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, St. Vincent de Paul, Together Baton Rouge, Alzheimer’s Services, Ascension Parish School System, Rebuilding Together Baton Rouge and Unlocking Autism Baton Rouge.

In turn, the nonprofits are providing immediate relief, such as feeding people and cleaning and preparing houses so families can go back home. Funds from the Foundation also have supported children with special needs, assisted in moving and reopening schools and establishing innovative processes to speed disaster recovery.

Donations to the Louisiana Flood Relief Fund can be made online at . Contributions to the fund are tax deductible.

About the Foundation: The Baton Rouge Area Foundation is among the largest community foundations in the country. We work in two ways to improve the lives of people across South Louisiana. One, we serve philanthropists, helping them pursue the causes they care about. Two, we take on projects for civic good. The Foundation and its fund donors have granted more than $400 million to nonprofits over more than five decades. Our projects include rebuilding inner city neighborhoods, reviving downtown Baton Rouge, improving health care services, improving education and the quality of life. The Foundation also supports local nonprofits with strategic consulting services.

About ���ϳԹ���: ���ϳԹ��� is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including nearly 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of approximately $11.5 billion and more than 13,000 employees.

At the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, approximately four feet of water swept through the warehouse, ruining a million pounds of food and all of the equipment needed to load, store and refrigerate the food.

“It was such a major impact. We lost everything. We lost our rolling equipment. We lost our forklifts and our packaging operation. We lost all of the offices, all of the computers, office furniture, said Mike Manning, president and CEO of the food bank. “It’s going to be very expensive, but we’re operating. We’re making sure the people in the greater Baton Rouge area including the surrounding parishes are getting fed and making sure they have food.”

On Friday, Entergy Louisiana went to the State Capitol and presented $100,000 to the agency. Joining them was Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, several legislators and Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden.��

Holden said no matter who is in need, the city has come together to help.

“We pull together and make things happen, Holden said. “Just like what Entergy is doing here today. They didn’t look for names. They were looking for a cause that’s worthy for the company to step up and say, ‘We’re here to help.’”

To clean the food bank’s facility and get it ready to meet food safety standards is expected to cost $1.5 million and take several more weeks. They continue supplying food, thanks to donations from all across the country and the use of a nearby facility

Meanwhile across town, the Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross launched a massive relief operation, housing and feeding thousands of people whose homes were demolished.

Last week, Entergy also gave the Red Cross $100,000 to help with the disaster relief. The Red Cross Louisiana flood response is anticipated to cost at least $30 million – and this number may grow as more is learned about the scope and magnitude of the devastation.

Phillip May, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana, said Entergy wants to do what it can to help the entire area recover from this catastrophe.

Besides agency donations, Entergy has launched several initiatives to help people clean up their homes, get the supplies they need and help them replace everyday items that have been lost.

“Louisiana is known for the resiliency of its people. No doubt, the flooding that occurred recently has challenged us all,” May said. “Entergy is coming together with these agencies who do so much good for so many. Together we can help restore the lives of our customers and reenergize the communities we serve.”

Michael Burns
504-576-4132
mburns@entergy.com�� ��

Kacee Kirschvink
504-576-4132
kkirsch@entergy.com

Restoration times unknown for those with severe structure damage

BATON ROUGE, La. – Power has been restored to all of the customers who can safely receive it. Some houses are still underwater in the St. Amant, Sorrento and False River areas, and it may take some time to re-energize an estimated 2,000 customers whose flood damage was so severe they cannot yet be re-connected. Entergy will continue working with these customers on an individual basis until their power can be restored.

The historic flooding of south Louisiana began Aug. 12 as a tropical-type weather system brought record-breaking rainfall and record-setting crests of local rivers, bayous and tributaries.

The flooding began north of Baton Rouge and made its way south for more than a week. Overall, 32,157 electric customers were affected. In addition, about 22,000 gas meters in Baton Rouge were submerged by floodwater and will have to be replaced.

“As we continue the next phase of our restoration process, we want customers to know that we will work closely with them to get their power back on,” said Dennis Dawsey, vice president of customer service for Louisiana. “We appreciate their cooperation and patience.”

More than 1,000 workers from Entergy’s four-state service territory of Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana assisted in the restoration process. Crews worked tirelessly with government agencies to prevent substations and critical systems from being damaged by floodwaters. Other crews walked through neighborhoods across south Louisiana, going door to door to inspect meters and electrical equipment. They energized lines where it was safe to do so.

Processes were put into place to ensure the safety of customers, as they remove water-soaked walls and flooring and prepare to rebuild their homes and businesses. The amount of water that entered their structures will determine the actions customers may need to take to have power restored. For more information, go to entergystormcenter.com/.

are open today to assist customers who can’t take power because of flood damage. Information about these centers is available by calling 1-800-9-OUTAGE and selecting option seven. Also, arrangements can be made for flood victims who need extra time to pay their Entergy Louisiana bills by calling 1-800-ENTERGY.

“We thank our customers for their patience during this difficult recovery,” Dawsey said. “It will take us all time to get over this devastating loss for our region, but together we can rebuild and become stronger parishes, cities and communities.”

Entergy Louisiana, LLC provides electric service to more than 1 million customers and natural gas service to approximately 93,000 customers in the greater Baton Rouge area. With operations in southern, central and northeastern Louisiana, the company is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���.

���ϳԹ��� is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including nearly 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of approximately $11.5 billion and more than 13,000 employees.

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for the��Process for Restoring Natural Gas to Flood Victims.

On Tuesday, an Entergy crew working in Luling saw volunteers filling sandbags at Westbank Bridge Park and decided to help out during their lunch break. Lt. Derek Pertuis and deputies from the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office were also pitching in.��

“Not only did employees join the effort, but they also called other Entergy employees who came and helped,” said Pertius, whose mother’s home in Gramercy was among those protected by the sandbags. “On behalf of my entire family, I cannot thank Entergy employees enough.”��

Employees who volunteered during their lunch break were Chris Hof, Erick Peltier, Matt Mollere, Keronne Lewis, Jake Schultz and John Goris.��

A River Bend Station team helped coworker Katie Damratoski (third from left) clean her parent’s home in the Sherwood Forest neighborhood in Baton Rouge. Pictured with Katie are (from left) Eric Olson, Natalie Wood, Elizabeth Fako, Rob Barrios and Orlando Rivera.

The week also has been busy for Ted Babin,��customer service representative in Baton Rouge, whose neighborhood in Ascension Parish stayed dry while others around it were submerged. ��

“On Sunday, my son and I used my boat to rescue people out of Manchac Harbor subdivision, which is across the street from where we live,” he said. “We didn’t flood, but our neighborhood was an island ― there was no way we could get out because all the main roads were flooded.”��

On Tuesday, Babin cooked breakfast for neighbors who were housing relatives displaced by the flood, including a resident who had 14 people staying at his home. Babin also used his boat that day to help friends in St. Amant move possessions out of their flooded house to higher ground. Babin is currently assisting with Entergy’s restoration efforts in the Gonzales network.��

“Everybody here is doing everything they can to help others, and there are so many Entergy employees who are volunteering,” he said. “It’s amazing, the willingness of employees who want to help.”

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*Please note: photos are available for use by news organizations, with a photo courtesy to Entergy.��