LAS VEGAS, Sept. 8, 2005 - Stepping up efforts to help nearly 8,000
Harrah's employees begin the process of recovery from Hurricane Katrina,
Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: HET) announced the opening of the Harrah's
Gulf Coast Region Assistance Center today in Gulfport, Miss.
The center, located at 11975 Seaway Road in Gulfport, is a resource
for employees of Harrah's three Gulf Region properties displaced by Hurricane
Katrina. Available services include:
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On-site, primary health care services. The first shipment of emergency
medical supplies for the center arrived this morning from Louisville, Ky.,
on the company's corporate jet;
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Assistance with compensation and benefits for displaced workers;
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Listings of available shelters, local housing and transportation;
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Information on nationwide job opportunities within the Harrah's network,
and;
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Access to e-mail and to the Harrah's Intranet with crucial relief and recovery
information.
Employees unable to visit the center in person can call the company's employee
information line at 877-422-7466. Harrah's is asking all displaced
employees to visit the Mississippi center or call the information line
so the company can account for all employees and direct them to relief
services.
Harrah's anticipates opening a second employee assistance center in
Louisiana in the near future.
In other updates:
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Harrah's said it will make up the difference between military pay and regular
pay to employees whose National Guard or Reserve units are activated for
Hurricane Katrina relief efforts;
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The cast of Tony n' Tina's Wedding announced two special performances on
Sunday, Sept. 11, at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Guests making a contribution of $100 or more to the Harrah's Employee Recovery
Fund or the Red Cross will receive a free ticket to the show, while
30 percent of proceeds from the purchase of regularly-priced tickets will
go to the Employee Recovery Fund. Both shows will feature guest performances
by Nevada Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt and Las Vegas entertainer Dennis Bono;
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Harrah's readied 150 hotel rooms at its Bourbon Street hotel in Las Vegas
to receive evacuees and displaced employees arriving from the Gulf Coast
Region;
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As previously announced, Harrah's will pay employees from its affected
properties their regularly scheduled base pay, up to 90 days, and is giving
these employees first preference for available jobs at other Harrah's properties.
In addition, the company has established temporary relief shelters for
employees at its properties in Tunica, Miss., Lake Charles, La., and Bossier
City, La.
The public can assist Harrah's employees by visiting the company's Web
site -- http://www.harrahs.com -- for additional information on how to
help.
As more definitive news and damage assessments become available, Harrah's
will take additional steps to bolster relief efforts for its employees,
and actively participate in the rebuilding of these vital communities.
Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., is the world's largest provider of branded
casino entertainment.
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