WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., March 21, 2011 — ITT Corporation (NYSE: ITT), in partnership with Mercy Corps, announced today it is responding with safe water and sanitation solutions to the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan.
This collaborative response is part of a strategic partnership between ITT's corporate citizenship program, ITT Watermark, and Mercy Corps to provide lifesaving water before, during and after emergencies. Within hours of being notified of the Japan disaster, ITT and Mercy Corps activated their joint 24-hour response protocol, designed to mobilize each partners' global assets to quickly secure water for victims. ITT immediately authorized $100,000 from its emergency response fund to support Mercy Corps and its local non-governmental partner, Peace Winds, with on-the-ground efforts in Japan. ITT also announced the company will double match all ITT employee donations — up to $5,000 for a maximum of $10,000 per employee — to Japan relief efforts.
According to the U.S. Agency for International Development, safe drinking water in tsunami-affected areas is of heightened concern due to water contamination and salination, and, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has estimated 1.4 million households in Japan's 14 prefectures currently have no access to water. In an effort to leverage all available assets, ITT began the process of recruiting an employee-led technical support team and identifying opportunities to redeploy ITT water treatment units previously used in response to recent disasters in Haiti and Pakistan.
"Water is always a critical need in disaster zones and, in times like these, we are humbled and honored that ITT resources can be of assistance," said Steve Loranger, ITT's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "We welcome the opportunity to leverage our expertise in fluid technology to support relief efforts and are proud to partner with Mercy Corps and Peace Winds."
Mercy Corps and Peace Winds' initial efforts have focused on Kesennuma, a city of approximately 70,000 people in the Miyagi Prefecture that was largely destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami. Making multiple trips via two helicopters, the response team delivered shelter materials and is working with locals to provide life-saving basics, including safe water and sanitation. In the long-term, ITT, Mercy Corps and Peace Winds aim to help earthquake and tsunami-affected families rebuild their lives.
"This kind of enormous disaster is overwhelming, even for a well-prepared country like Japan," said Neal Keny-Guyer, chief executive officer, Mercy Corps. "Thanks to ITT's generous support, Peace Winds' Japanese base, and Mercy Corps' expertise, we are ideally positioned to help the Japanese people, and fill some of their immediate need for safe water, shelter and food supplies."
ITT has a strong legacy of investing in disaster response and risk reduction. Since 2008, ITT and Mercy Corps have provided safe water to disaster victims in nine countries, including Pakistan, Haiti, China, Honduras, Congo and Nepal, among others. In February 2011, ITT committed to reduce the impact of water-related disasters further by partnering with members of the Emergency Capacity Building Project — a collaborative initiative among leading international relief organizations — to support the development of risk reduction programs in disaster hot spots. In total, ITT and its partners have provided safe water to more than 400,000 emergency victims worldwide. For more information about ITT Watermark and ITT's disaster response efforts, visit www.ittwatermark.com.
About ITT Corporation
ITT Corporation is a high-technology engineering and manufacturing company operating on all seven continents in three vital markets: water and fluids management, global defense and security, and motion and flow control. With a heritage of innovation, ITT partners with its customers to deliver extraordinary solutions that create more livable environments, provide protection and safety and connect our world. Headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., the company reported 2010 revenue of $11 billion. www.itt.com.
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps helps people turn the crises they confront into the opportunities they deserve. Driven by local needs, our programs provide communities in the world's toughest places with the tools and support they need to transform their own lives. Our worldwide team in 36 countries is improving the lives of 19 million people. For more information, see mercycorps.org.