Within hours of the attacks, an onsite technical team from the company helped relief efforts by ensuring that the rescue teams were getting the appropriate respiratory equipment. 3M established a 24-hour emergency response team at corporate headquarters in St. Paul, Minn. to support that team. At posting date, the 3M team was still on-site assisting with the recovery efforts.

The company also donated nearly $1 million in product to the relief efforts, including 65,000 particulate respirators and more than 1000 grinding and welding shields from 3M's Occupational Health and Environmental Safety Division. 3M also provided thousands of rolls of 3M Vetrap Bandaging Tape, cases of 3M Vetbond Tissue Adhesive for the search and rescue dogs, more than 1,800 inhalers, and a thousand cases of 3M Avagard Surgical and Healthcare Personnel Hand Antiseptic.

Company employees from the Telecom Access Products Division (TAPD) in the Austin, Texas office provided 24-hour on-site technical support to Verizon Communications technicians who re-established the circuits needed for operation of the New York Stock Exchange.

3M helped the American Red Cross with office space and with donations. The company provided the American Red Cross of the St. Paul area with office space and telephones to help them respond to the high number of calls received after the attacks. 3M also made space available at its West Caldwell, N.J. facility for the storage and distribution of materials used in the relief effort.

Initially, 3M established a $250,000 matching gift fund for employee and retiree contributions for the American Red Cross, the United Way or the Salvation Army. After employees and retirees contributed more than $400,000 however, 3M decided to match donations up to $500,000.