Honeywell helps first responders respond to Sandy

At Honeywell's First Alert Professional conference in Hollywood, Fla. last week, everyone there expressed concern about the victims of Hurricane Sandy, which battered the East Coast last week. But Honeywell isn't just expressing sympathy—this week it said it's also taking action by donating more than a half a million dollars in first responder products for relief efforts and also providing financial and other assistance to its employees impacted by the storm.

New York and New Jersey—where Honeywell is based—were the hardest hit. Some dealers and Honeywell employees couldn't attend the FAP event because they were grappling with everything from damaged homes to power outages.

Yesterday, Morristown, N.J.-based Honeywell announced it is donating more than $600,000 in first responder products to areas damaged by the storm and also providing humanitarian aid to its employees.

Here's more from the company's Nov. 6 press release:

Honeywell, the makers of Morning Pride turnout gear for first responders, will donate more than 19,000 personal protective products including protective footwear, gloves, hoods and helmets, designed to weather the most arduous conditions first responders face every day. The protective gear will be distributed via the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management in Long Island, New York, to first responder teams in affected areas in New York and New Jersey.

“As the world's leading provider of personal protective equipment, we are deeply committed to worker safety and to helping those on the front lines of rescue and recovery efforts remain safe,” said Honeywell Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dave Cote. “Honeywell employees work and live in these communities, these are our own hometowns and we feel a sense of responsibility to support the first responders there.”

Honeywell also announced the Honeywell Humanitarian Relief Fund (HHRF) has been deployed to support employees who have been affected by the devastating hurricane.� Support will initially include immediate cash assistance for food, clothing, and shelter to employees who have been temporarily displaced. Honeywell will also match employee contributions to HHRF dollar for dollar.

“With a significant presence in the tri-state area, many of our employees have felt the impact of Hurricane Sandy's destruction,” Cote added. “The fund will help with longer-term needs once the extent of the damage has been assessed and local efforts turn to rebuilding.”

Over the last year, Honeywell has donated more than $1 million of safety products to support disaster relief, first responder and other non-profit agencies to protect those serving our communities. Through the HHRF, the company and thousands of Honeywell employees have responded with donations and long-term rebuilding efforts for other tragedies in recent years, such as the tsunami in Japan, the Colorado wildfires, the earthquake in Haiti, tornadoes in North Carolina, hurricanes Ike and Katrina, and the earthquake in China.