About 819,000 gallons of oil spilled from the company´s Chalmette, La. refinery.

On Sept. 28, Michael Hulse, president of Murphy Oil USA Inc., released a letter to the residents of St. Bernard Parish, pledging the company´s help.

The letter ran in full-page ads in local newspapers, outlining the initiatives the company will take and its $5 million donation to rebuild the community.

"First, Katrina had not only devastated the community, it had also devastated lives," Hulse said. "Second, we all owe a huge debt to the brave men and women who stood on the front lines and battled this terrible tragedy on that first day and remain there today slowly but surely regaining ground. Third, Murphy Oil needs to help our neighbors and make a major commitment to bringing St. Bernard Parish back to life."

The company will donate $2 million to fund relief efforts in the parish, $1 million to the St. Bernard Parish United Way, $1 million to the St. Bernard Parish Public School System and $1 million to help local businesses reopen and get people back to work.