Bayer Texas Facilities Report Status as Hurricane Rita Passes

BAYTOWN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 2005--Bayer facilities in Texas began reporting the status of their operations Saturday as the eye of Hurricane Rita pushed past the Texas coastline.

Preliminary reports from the Baytown site indicated minimal damage due to the storm and preliminary reports from Bayer sites in the cities of Channelview, Pasadena and Spring, indicated no damage occurred.

Bayer encourages employees to monitor news media reports regularly for guidance from public officials concerning conditions in their communities. Relevant information for all Bayer employees in Texas will be posted on the Bayer Web site, www.BayerUS.com.

A 44-person crew remained on the 1,700-acre Baytown site throughout the storm and reported all personnel on the team are safe. There were no reports of flooding from rainfall or from the storm surge.

A start-up date has not yet been established for the Baytown Site nor has an official return-to-work date been established. For informational updates, employees are urged to call the Bayer Baytown Hotline periodically each day. The hotline number is: 1-281-573-4636 or, alternatively, 1-877-229-3710. Bayer Baytown employees are also asked to report their status and contact information into a central Employee Status Check-In Line: 1-866-683-1700.