Hurricane Harvey has hit Texas harder than expected, impacting millions, displacing hundreds of thousands and taking the lives of at least five people. The storm has shuttered United’s fortress hub at Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston until at least this evening. United CEO Oscar Munoz has penned a letter to employees addressing the tragic hurricane.
Here’s the note–
Dear Team,
This weekend we are seeing employees travel the country to come to the rescue of others. We have seen friends helping one another. We’ve seen colleagues take extra shifts so that others can go home to their families early. We have seen the spirit of the new United in action.
I especially want to thank and commend all of our colleagues in Houston who have done a tremendous job to make all of us proud. We are grateful for everyone’s efforts and are always in awe of your fortitude.
The purpose and values we so often talk about have been put into action. I could not be more proud of the way you’ve worked hard to keep us flying right, flying safely, and serving our customers and one another. We’re showing our best selves.
Our commitment to our communities endures for as many tomorrows as it takes to fully recover. Over the next few days, we will continue to cheer the heartwarming outpouring of customer support through our program that allows MileagePlus members to donate to relief organizations in return for miles.
Our thoughts and prayers are with those who’ve been adversely affected.
Oscar
My FA friend who sent this said it arrived early yesterday morning. Rain has mercilessly fallen over the last 24 hours…this storm and its aftermath are far from over. I concur with Oscar’s last sentence. What a horrific event. For my readers in Texas, stay safe and dry…
photo: NASA
Matt:
The Houston Airport Authority has shuttered all flights out of Bush Intercontinental and Hobby indefenitely. Only flights allowed at those two airports right now are humanitarian and rescue flights.
It’s only going to be a matter of time before we start seeing irate passengers being treated badly by equally irate United employees at IAH. This letter might have been too soon from Mr. Muñoz.
I’m actually amazed that my neighborhood didn’t flood. I am extremely lucky that despite record rainfall, we didn’t even come close to flooding in my subdivision. Our lake didn’t rise much, and the water on the street never reached the level of the rubber bottoms of my shoes. Didn’t even get water in my shoes as I walked the street.
I left in my car however at one point to see how people were faring outside, despite warnings not to do that, and I realized that most of the subdivisions around me were inundated, and most of my friends were out of house and home (and car). We knew this was coming, but I don’t think most people here realized how crazy it was going to be. I just can’t get over the fact that my subdivision was the one around me that was impervious to flood waters.
Glad you are safe Mike!
I believe this is an URGENT wakeup call for US to start saving and protecting the world’s environment