5.16.2006 ET

(CSRwire) MIDLAND, MICH - The American Red Cross is accustomed to providing shelter for victims of fires, storms, and other disasters. But with an announcement from The Dow Chemical Company, they're now the recipients.

At the 109th Annual Stockholder's Meeting, Dow announced the donation of a portable emergency shelter to the twenty-six chapters of the American Red Cross in Michigan.

The modular unit is 28 feet long, 9 feet wide and 8 feet tall. It can be assembled in less than an hour by a crew of four with no specialized tools or training. Potential uses include housing for displaced residents and emergency workers, medical centers and field operation headquarters.

"The unit will give us additional flexibility to respond to disasters like tornados and wildfires across the state," said Patricia Tiernan, executive director of the Midland/Gladwin Chapter of the American Red Cross. In 2005, the American Red Cross Michigan Chapters helped 3,348 people displaced by fires and other disasters.

"We're getting more creative as we work with our partners to address community needs," said Bo Miller, director of Corporate Citizenship and Global Contributions at Dow.

Miller said the unit represents Dow's effort to develop a mobile, cost-effective shelter for both charitable and commerical uses around the globe. Dow donated 111 units to Tsunami victims on Indonesia's Nias Island, constructing an entire village in a day.

The unit is made up of a steel-faced roof, walls and floor panels lined with Dow STYROFOAM brand insulation and bonded with BETAMATE and BETASEAL adhesives from Dow Automotive. Each unit costs about $6,500 to construct.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by vounteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Prinicpals of the International Red Crosss Movement, will provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for and repond to emergencies.

About Dow:
Dow is a diverified chemical company that harmnesses the power of science and technology to improve living daily. The Company offers a broad range of innovative products and services to customers in more than 175 countries, helping them to provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. Built on a commitment to its principles of sustainabilty, Dow has annual sales of $46 billion and employs 42,000 people worldwide. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

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