When the double tragedies of hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck parts of the southern United States this past summer, the only question asked among individuals at DPR was how—not if—the company and employees should respond. As has been done with previous natural disasters, such as last year’s devastating tsunami in South Asia, DPR immediately set up a relief fund, committing a total of $75,000 to be given to both the American Red Cross and AmeriCares. A dollar-for-dollar match challenge added to the goodwill efforts, with DPR also offering to match employee donations up to a second $75,000. DPR employees rose to the challenge, giving a total of $29,589 to charitable organizations. Combined with DPR’s original commitment and match donation, a total of $134,178 was contributed to charitable organizations by DPR and its employees.

On the ground level, DPR offices did even more. DPR client HCA contacted the Austin office the morning after Katrina hit seeking manpower and a generator to help repair its facilities in the affected region. DPR quickly responded by securing a two-million-watt generator the size of an 18-wheeler truck, along with the necessary fuel, and sent two team members, Project Manager Wayne Fontenot and Superintendent Kenny Matula, to Lakeview Regional Medical Center, one of HCA’s four hospitals in the New Orleans area. By 2 a.m. the next day—less than 24 hours after being contacted—DPR had the entire Lakeview hospital back online, allowing patients to return and providing shelter to doctors and hospital staff since it was the only facility in town with power. When HCA’s Tulane University Hospital and Clinic was evacuated four days after Katrina hit, DPR installed generators, lights, fans, and benches in an under-construction daycare center next to Lakeview, creating a safe and dry place for evacuees.

Back in DPR offices, other employees found other ways to get involved in the relief efforts. From Sacramento to Fairfax, employees enthusiastically helped assemble hygiene care kits and participated in drives to collect hard goods, such as toys, clothing, infant apparel and hygienic supplies. The Sacramento office put together 125 kits that were loaded on to a truck and driven to Louisiana. DPR’s Fairfax, VA office donated several hundred dollars worth of goods to the D.C. Armory, which took in Katrina survivors.