To aid with the recovery, UPM supports three well-established national organisations in Poland: Red Cross Poland, the WOŚP (The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation) and WWF Poland. The contributions are focused on human aid and rebuilding affected areas, as well as funding projects to prevent future flood damage.
To aid in the rebuilding efforts in the US, UPM supports/supported the American Red Cross through its Hurricane Helene Relief, which directs the aid to local communities where UPM Raflatac also operates. Their services include mobile and fixed feeding sites, relief shelters, community care centres with necessities like showers and laundry facilities, and much more.
Floods in Poland caused by the Genoa low
In mid-September, floods in southern Poland caused immense damage, including surroundings of Wrocław where two UPM Raflatac factories and UPM Business Hub are located. While our facilities were fortunately not directly affected by the flooding, the neighbouring regions suffered greatly and thousands of people lost their homes. Urban infrastructure was destroyed in many places and there were also human casualties.
UPM Raflatac’s factories in Poland responded immediately to the emergency. Employees donated daily goods which the local Caritas Poland delivered to the flood victims. Additionally, they contributed to financing dehumidification pumps for the damaged homes.
Today, two months after the floods, the devastation is still visible, and people need help especially before the approaching winter. “We have now entered a long-term recovery phase, focusing on helping families refurnish their homes and create safe living conditions. Beyond material assistance, we are dedicated to restoring stability and a sense of safety, which are essential for returning to normal life after such a disaster,” says Małgorzata Szukała, head of the communication and fundraising department, Polish Red Cross.
In such situations, a quick response is crucial. “With the help of benefactors, we delivered a total of 2,000 dehumidifiers, over 6,700 heaters, 800 generators, and 250 submersible pumps, along with pressure washers, wheelbarrows, geotextiles, and cleaning supplies. Additionally, our foundation has coordinated the delivery of 23 truckloads of food and hygiene products and financed sanitary infrastructure, including portable toilets and shower cabins in flood-affected areas,” summarises Anna Libertowska, press department, WOŚP.
In addition to dealing with the consequences of flooding, it is also important to remember to prevent the next one.“The grant donated by UPM will help us to combat the effects of flooding in the heavily affected areas of Krzyżanowice and Wołów, which, together with WWF Poland have collaborated on a project of moving embankments away from the Oder River as a flood protection for local residents,” adds Alicja Pawelec, head of freshwater conservation team, WWF Poland.
Red Cross Poland and WOŚP in action
Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina
On September 27th, Hurricane Helene brought heavy rains and strong winds, causing catastrophic floods, mudslides, and monumental destruction in Western North Carolina. Over one million people were affected, including all 323 UPM Raflatac employees working at the Mills River and Fletcher production sites, and the Asheville office. In the area thousands lost electricity and water for days, many experienced properties damage from falling trees or floods, some lost their homes, and over 125 people died. For nearly two days, Asheville and its surrounding communities were cut off from the world.
UPM Raflatac employees immediately pulled together to confirm that all team members were alive and safe. Within days, a team set up a food and water distribution center at the Mills River factory to provide these essentials to employees and their families.
Helping hands in action
Today, the recovery has started but continues for a long time still. In some areas there are still people living without electricity or running water, and services has taken weeks to return. Many has lacked reliable internet and cell service.
“Thanks to UPM’s generous support, the American Red Cross, alongside our partners, is able to support families who experienced the heartbreaking devastation from Hurricane Helene,” says Anne McKeough, chief development officer at the American Red Cross. “We are grateful for partners like UPM as we work together to provide comfort and hope to people when they need it most.”
Engaging with Communities through UPM Biofore Share and Care Programme
UPM’s Biofore Share and Care programme coordinates donations, sponsorships, and employee volunteering, focusing on causes and projects that are relevant to our business, support innovation and sustainability, or promote local vitality and wellbeing.
“UPM has major operations in several places around the world. We care about our people and the societies they live and work in. Therefore, in situations like this, we want to help our employees and their families get through difficult times. We trust our colleagues and local support organisations to coordinate and deliver the support, as they have the best knowledge and means to do it effectively and with the integrity we require,” says Saara Tahvanainen, EVP, Marketing, Sustainability and Communications at UPM.
“Natural disasters can be catastrophic for the individuals and their communities, and weigh heavily on the hearts, minds, and lives of everyone affected. With the donated support we want to express our support to the communities as they rebuild their daily lives.”
