Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and DuPont officials today led employees, government officials and area residents in a celebration of the DuPont DeLisle titanium dioxide (TiO₂) plant's recovery from a direct hit by Hurricane Katrina.  The site resumed manufacturing operations less than five months after the storm disabled the plant.  With 523 employees and more than a thousand contractor employees, DuPont DeLisle is a major supplier of TiO₂ to the paper, coatings and plastics industries.

At a ceremony, Governor Barbour and DeLisle Plant Manager Pat Nichols commended the dedication and teamwork of employees for restarting the facility and praised the company’s commitment to the community.

“ Since my visit here shortly after Hurricane Katrina, it is clear that the DuPont team has made tremendous progress,” Governor Barbour said.  “In overcoming the adversity caused by the worst natural disaster to hit the United States, you took care of each other, helped provide for community and family needs, while at the same time going about the business of bringing this important operation back on line.

“I salute you and your successful efforts.  It is further evidence of Mississippi's resolve to rebuild our businesses and communities, recover from the devastation caused by the storm, and renew our faith in the future.”

“Literally thousands of people have worked around the clock since August to make this achievement possible,” said Nichols.  “It is not an exaggeration to say that the rebirth of our plant is a tangible and hopeful symbol of the revival we expect to see throughout our community, state and the entire Gulf Coast region.”

Despite the size and intensity of the storm, all DuPont DeLisle employees and their immediate families escaped without major injury.  Many lost their homes and possessions, but their dedication to recovery and rebuilding never wavered.

“Our people demonstrated a level of concern and dedication to the company and to each other that is truly humbling,” said Nichols.  “We will never forget that the power of our DuPont family and friends is the reason the DeLisle Plant is back in business today.

“It is this dedication, along with the quality of our products and our spirit of continuous improvement at DuPont DeLisle, which reinforces our commitment to Mississippi and our Gulf Coast community.”

In the hurricane’s immediate aftermath, the DuPont DeLisle site continued to pay employees while they managed their personal and family affairs.  Employees came back to the site as soon as recovery activity intensified, and no employees lost pay because of the storm.

DuPont also created a temporary residential community at the plant site, providing trailers for a number of employees and their families.  The company constructed sanitary facilities as well as a kitchen and dining area to support the temporary residents and the hundreds of construction personnel working at the site.

In addition to providing for its own employees, the company and dozens of employee volunteers arranged for the donation and delivery of emergency supplies – food, water, ice, tents, tarpaulins and other essentials – to neighboring communities.  DuPont also made more than $1.5 million in contributions to hurricane-affected areas, earmarking large sums of this money for communities surrounding the DeLisle plant.

“It is a privilege to work with dedicated professionals, who truly care about each other and our community. They understand the important role DuPont serves in the economic and social welfare of our region,” Nichols said.  “Watching everyone come together, I have complete confidence in the recovery of this region and in DuPont DeLisle. We are all world-class leaders because our people and our communities are world-class.”

Prior to Hurricane Katrina, the DuPont site conducted a study that estimated the site’s economic impact in Mississippi as $153 million per year.  Although total rebuilding costs associated with the DuPont DeLisle site have not been determined, DuPont’s estimates of total hurricane-recovery cost are more than $150 million.  A significant portion of this cost was related to recovery and rebuilding at the DeLisle site.

The DuPont Titanium Technologies business is the world’s largest manufacturer of TiO₂ , serving customers globally in the coatings, paper and plastics industries. The company recently announced plans to build a world-scale TiO₂ manufacturing plant at Dongying, China, that is expected to commence operations in 2010.   DuPont currently operates plants at DeLisle, Miss.; New Johnsonville, Tenn.; Edge Moor, Del.; Altamira, Mexico; Uberaba, Brazil, and; Kuan Yin, Taiwan. Technical service centers are located in Uberaba; Mechelen, Belgium; Kuan Yin; Wilmington, Del.; and Shanghai, China, to serve the European, Middle Eastern, U.S. and Asian markets.

DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.