• A leader in the rail industry is donating $25,000 to support Florida relief efforts following Hurricanes Ian and Nicole
• The donation will go to the Red Cross, which have been on the front lines in the Sunshine State months before Ian and Nicole’s arrival

The Wabtec Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Wabtec Corporation, today announced a donation of $25,000 to support local relief efforts in Florida following Hurricanes Ian and Nicole.

In a press release, the company said the donation is being made to the Red Cross. For more than 140 years, the Red Cross has been on the scene supporting those in need following natural disasters. Since Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, the Red Cross has had thousands of volunteers providing meals, shelters, and supplies to the impacted region.

“We are an active community member in Florida and are committed to supporting those in need where our employees live and work,” said Nicole Theophilus, Chief Human Resource Officer for Wabtec. “The back-to-back nature of these recent hurricanes left our community members in Florida hurting and without the basic services we depend on every day. Thousands of Florida residents continue to deal with the lingering effects of these storms. The Red Cross is the ideal partner to support as they help the impacted communities get back on their feet.”

Wabtec has approximately 700 employees across multiple sites in Florida. Most of Wabtec’s employees are located in Jacksonville and Melbourne.

Hurricane Ian made landfall on Sept. 28, pummeling Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 155 mph before cutting across toward the east coast. The storm left a path of destruction across the Sunshine State, producing catastrophic flooding and storm surge. It is the third-deadliest storm to hit the U.S., eclipsed only by hurricanes Katrina and Sandy.

Hurricane Nicole made landfall on Nov. 10 south of Vero Beach as a Category 1 storm before moving up the state as a tropical storm. The rare November storm caused widespread power outages and toppled several homes.

The Florida Medical Examiners Commission confirmed five deaths related to Hurricane Nicole, while Hurricane Ian’s death toll was far greater, with 130 deaths being confirmed on Nov. 1.