In an emergency: The Baton Rouge Area Foundation is offering charitable funds through which businesses can make grants to their employees struck by unforeseen circumstances like floods and house fires. Companies can open charitable funds and deposit money in their Employee 1st accounts. Employee 1st verifies an employee’s hardship and quickly makes a grant based on a worker’s needs. The contributions are tax deductible. Employees 1st already serves more than 80 companies that employ about 60,000 workers. The program issued more than $6 million in grants after the floods of 2016 in south Louisiana. Get more information.
Halted: Floodwaters have forced Saudi-based Motiva Enterprises to temporarily close its refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, this morning, CNN Money reports. The refinery—the biggest in the nation—slashed production by 40% on Tuesday, but Motiva says it’s now closing the refinery in response to local weather conditions. The plant will not reopen until the floodwaters recede. Harvey, which has been downgraded to a tropical storm, made a second landfall this morning near the Louisiana-Texas border. Read more from CNN Money.
In the air: Do airport baggage handlers actually handle suitcases marked fragile with care? To find out, Condé Nast Traveler spoke with Zack, an airport crew member for a company that provides baggage and ground services to several major airlines and charter companies. Zack shares his best tips on how to make sure your bag gets the fragile treatment you asked for. Among his many suggestions: Get rid of old tags and stickers, buy insurance and pack precious items with care. Read more from Condé Nast Traveler.
