The Hertz Corporation announced Tuesday the opening of its Gulf Coast Customer Care Center to assist retail customers, business people and government employees traveling to the Gulf Coast area who need rental cars and equipment for clean-up related activities.

The center can be reached by calling toll-free, (888) 932-7259. Trained customer care representatives are available to rent cars and SUVs, as well as a wide range of equipment, and to provide overall assistance to customers traveling to the Gulf Coast.

"Since the beginning of the Gulf Coast crisis, Hertz has been on the ground providing assistance to business and government customers," commented Hertz Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mark P. Frissora. "Hertz is in a unique position to offer both car and equipment rental solutions, and demand has increased steadily since the crisis began. The creation of a one-stop Customer Care Center provides an easy way for organizations and individual customers assisting with clean-up efforts to work with Hertz."

With the increased rental needs by corporate and government entities, including FEMA and the Coast Guard, traveling to the Gulf Coast area, Hertz Rent A Car has relocated several hundred vehicles, including SUVs and vans, into the region.

In addition, Hertz Equipment Rental has ordered more than $7 million worth of equipment and is transferring trucks, vans and shuttle buses to its Equipment Rental Offices to meet customer demand. Hertz Equipment Rental is also in the process of opening on-site base camps in Alabama and Florida to provide easier access to cars and equipment for its corporate customers.

"At Hertz, we have decades of experience mobilizing quickly to provide support as the nation deals with major catastrophes. We have deployed employees from across the country, including Washington, Las Vegas and Fort Myers, to the Gulf Coast to ensure we meet customers' needs," continued Frissora. "To maintain high levels of customer service, our relocated employees are working with local management to get cars and equipment to our customers as quickly as possible."

While AAA offices have reported member inquiries regarding travel to the Gulf Coast, they have not experienced widespread cancellations. Travelers visit the region for reasons other than boating and swimming, including visiting family and friends, state and national parks, golfing, shopping, dining and nightlife. Hertz's Gulf Coast Customer Care Center is able to support the individual traveler, making reservations, extending rentals, searching for locations and checking on car availability.