Norfolk Southern Affirms Continuing Support of Employees and Communities In Wake of Severe Weather
Written by David C. Lester, Editor-in-Chief
Norfolk Southern
ATLANTA –– Norfolk Southern this week provided an update on restoration and support of its infrastructure, employees, and the communities in which it operates that were impacted by the severe storms of last week.
The company added that it is working with local and state authorities in several states, “notably Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia where our network was impacted most severely, to support our employees and communities and restore critical rail infrastructure to the region.”
Norfolk Southern also said “Our thoughts remain with those who have been impacted by the severe weather event, especially the families mourning a loss of life and severe property damage. We are donating $100,000 to the American Red Cross for immediate and long-term recovery needs. Additionally, we have two programs in place to assist Norfolk Southern railroaders who have been impacted. Our teams have been working safely and urgently to restore service on affected routes, ensuring access for the region and our customers. We appreciate their patience and coordination as we move forward with full recovery.”
Employee Support
NS announced that it will launch an Employee Hardship fund in the coming weeks. The railroad said “This is a new initiative designed to support our team members during challenging times –– such as natural disasters, medical emergencies, or other qualifying events –– ensuring help is available when it’s needed most. The activation will retroactively cover employees impacted by this incident and others, like Hurricane Helene.”
The railroad added that the Employee Hardship Fund will be “in addition to existing programs that NS activates during a FEMA-declared natural disaster.”
Community Support
Norfolk Southern also noted that, for nearly 20 years, it has served as a Disaster Responder partner of the American Red Cross, contributing $250,000 annually to their general relief fund that is used to address incidents like these,
NS also announced that “In addition to our annual disaster relief support, [the company] is donating $100,000 for dedicated efforts in the areas impacted by this most recent severe weather event. We are also encouraging employees to donate, with a two-to-one match, and will continue hosting blood drives throughout the year to support the Red Cross’s overall mission.”
Network Recovery
Finally, the railroad reports that “Our teams have been working around the clock to safely assess conditions, reroute affected traffic, and fully restore service.
“Both main lines are now back in service as of Feb. 20. As needed, we will continue to provide updates to our customers through this landing page.”
Norfolk Southern photo
Background Reading
Bad Weather Hammering NS & CSX
