Lowe's Assisting with Hurricane Gustav Relief

Lowe's Assisting with Hurricane Gustav ReliefCompany Launches Customer Donation Program to Benefit the American Red Cross Recovery Supplies, Personnel on Standby for Hurricanes Gustav and Hanna

MOORESVILLE, N.C., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Lowe's Companies, Inc. announced today the company has truckloads of emergency supplies staged and ready for Hurricane Gustav relief efforts along the Gulf Coast as it prepares for the expected arrival of Hurricane Hanna later this week. The company also announced that its more than 1,575 stores nationwide will serve as official cash donation sites to benefit the American Red Cross 2008 hurricane relief efforts. Lowe's will match in-store contributions up to $250,000.

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"The American Red Cross greatly appreciates Lowe's support. We are only able to provide lifesaving services to people affected by disaster through the generous support of the American public and from vital corporate partners like Lowe's," stated Jeffrey Towers, Chief Development Officer of the American Red Cross.

As of Monday afternoon, Lowe's had approximately 30 stores closed in coastal Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, and more than 70 total stores under its command center watch in the Gulf Coast region.

"Lowe's command center is in full activation and we are expediting as much emergency product into affected communities to help customers recover when they return home," said Larry D. Stone, Lowe's president and chief operating officer. "In addition, Lowe's employees from other parts of the Southeast are on standby as part of our Storm Recovery Teams that will allow Lowe's to reopen stores as soon as it is safe to do so. These teams can also relieve affected Lowe's employees so they may attend to their own homes and families."

In July, Lowe's raised more than $25,000 as part of its "Racing for Relief" program to help the American Red Cross with Midwest flood relief efforts. During 2007, Lowe's and its customers raised $620,000 to support American Red Cross disaster responses, including relief to the thousands impacted by the California wildfires. Since partnering with the American Red Cross in 1999, Lowe's has raised more than $17.5 million for disaster relief.

ABOUT LOWE'S:

Lowe's is a proud supporter of the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity International, United Way of America, and the Home Safety Council, in addition to numerous non-profit organizations and programs that help communities across the country. In 2007, Lowe's and the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $27.5 million to support community and education projects in the United States and Canada. Lowe's also encourages volunteerism through the Lowe's Heroes program, a company-wide employee volunteer initiative. Lowe's is a FORTUNE(R) 50 company with fiscal year 2007 sales of $48.3 billion and has more than 1,575 stores in the United States and Canada. For more information, visit Lowes.com/community .

ABOUT AMERICAN RED CROSS:

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the hurricanes of 2008, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org .

SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc.