CITGO Becomes Official Fuel Sponsor of First Response Team of America, Aiding Emergency Relief Efforts in Houston and Across the Country

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Jun 28, 2016, 08:00 ET

HOUSTON, June 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CITGO Petroleum Corporation has entered into a new partnership with First Response Team of America, making CITGO the natural disaster response organization's official fuel sponsor. With this partnership, First Response Team of America, which aids communities between the onset of a natural disaster and the arrival of traditional relief agencies, will be able to continuously and reliably fuel its support vehicles as they travel the country assisting areas in need.

First Response Team of America is a nonprofit dedicated to reaching communities in the crucial moments immediately following natural catastrophes in order to reduce the time it takes to help those affected. The partnership with CITGO will play a large role in enabling first responders to reach their destinations. By working with meteorologists to study weather patterns, First Response Team of America is able to anticipate where and when the worst storms may strike and pre-position itself nearby in order to quickly deploy responders after an area is hit, arriving within hours. With a fleet of specialized trucks and equipment and experienced staff – many of which were recently deployed to Houston following deadly flooding in the region – First Response Team of America is the only national relief-focused nongovernmental organization with the capabilities and the specialized, heavy equipment to assist with the immediate needs of leaders and community members in the aftermath of natural disasters.

"From hurricanes and flooding to earthquakes and tornadoes, First Response Team of America is there ensuring communities get back on their feet," said Tad Agoglia, First Response Team of America's founder and CEO. "Thanks to our partnership with CITGO, we can turn our attention to the crucial moments following a catastrophe and quickly get on the road to jump-start recovery efforts."

Since inception in 2007, First Response Team of America has responded to 91 communities across the United States and Haiti and helped hundreds of thousands of storm survivors. On the ground, First Response Team of America's staff assist with everything from clearing roads blocked by debris and power lines to providing emergency power and distributing much-needed supplies. In Houston, First Response Team of America worked with families to begin to clean out and repair homes damaged by the near-20 inches of water that flooded parts of the city.

"In the past month, we witnessed First Response Team of America helping our neighbors in Houston and know firsthand what a tremendous impact it has on the community's recovery," said CITGO President and CEO Nelson Martinez. "We are honored to work with organizations like First Response Team of America that are so committed to supporting communities during times of crisis, and we are confident our partnership will help aid workers across the country."

In addition to partnering with the First Response Team of America, CITGO continuously supports natural disaster recovery efforts. In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, CITGO helped the communities in recovery by providing funds and fuel to nongovernmental organizations and first responders as well as assisting in the evacuation of residents out of harm's way. Following the storms, the operations at the CITGO Lake Charles refinery were brought back online in record time so that fuel and other desperately-needed products could be provided to the region. More than ten years after the storms passed, CITGO continues to help with recovery efforts through its environmental protection and coastal restoration program, CITGO Caring for Our Coast.

About First Response Team of America
First Response Team of America is an independent, not-for-profit, 501.3.c. service organization that works to aid communities and people affected by disaster, regardless of who or where they are. FRTA is not affiliated with any church, religion, denomination or creed, nor any political philosophy or belief.

About CITGO
CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by CITGO Holding, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information, visit www.CITGO.com.

SOURCE CITGO Petroleum Corporation