Friday, September 27, 2024, was not business as usual. In almost every neighborhood in the CSRA, there were signs of destruction after Hurricane Helene blew through in the early morning hours.
Helene left her mark by dumping as much as 13 inches of rain, equivalent to a once-in-500-year occurrence in many areas of Richmond, Columbia, Jefferson, Edgefield, and Saluda counties, and packing winds of 100 mph.
Local tourism and hospitality lost millions of dollars from canceled events. The destruction left many business owners stuck in a maze of insurance-related uncertainties. Supply chain issues and IT disruptions became a lengthy challenge for many businesses.
The storm left scars that remain evident even a year later.
As the founder of PRYCO Structural Engineer, Jose Hernandez watched the weather forecasts a couple of days before Helene hit, and he felt it would be bad for his adopted hometown of Augusta, Georgia.
Born in Puerto Rico, he had witnessed devastating storms before, including Hurricane Maria in 2017, which resulted in more than 3,000 deaths and $91 billion in damage. Even with that experience, Hernandez and his family were in shock, like everyone else in their Augusta neighborhood on the morning of September 27.
“It was overwhelming. We saw help trying to make their way to us, but the number of fallen trees and the amount of debris prevented that. We had no power or water. My wife asked what we were going to do because the community will need us,” said Hernandez.
He sent his wife and two children to stay with his brother in Greenville, SC. Meanwhile, Jose took a mattress to his office, sent out social media posts about who needed help, answered phone calls, and basically worked 24/7 for several weeks out of PRYCO’s office at 1450 Greene Street in Augusta.
Open arms to help
“I started my company in 2021. No one really knew me, but I was able to deliver what they needed as a structural engineer. When Helene hit, I wanted to help. I worked with businesses, including Bowles Construction and ServPro, to help with structural repairs, but I also took calls from many people who had residential work, which doesn’t pay as much.”
For Hernandez, it was a way to give back when people needed it most.
“There was a lady from Harlem who called me in tears because no one would come and help her. What I do as a structural engineer isn’t seen on the outside, but after Helene, it helped secure people’s homes and helped rebuild their lives from the inside out.”
Over the course of several demanding weeks, Hernandez answered over 80 requests for assistance, primarily from residents needing urgent structural assessments of storm-damaged homes.
Rewarding service
Despite his workload, Hernandez also upheld all of PRYCO’s commercial commitments without compromise, underscoring his resilience as well as the firm’s reputation for reliability under pressure.
His dedication led to the Distinguished Service to People Award, presented annually by the American Society of Civil Engineers South Carolina Section, recognizing active members who have demonstrated extraordinary service to the community.
The honor affirmed Jose Hernandez’s reputation as a trusted leader in civil and structural engineering, as well as his dedication to the region’s recovery.
Many businesses and nonprofit organizations in the CSRA rose to the occasion after Helene by donating their time and money to help. For one business owner, the effort proved that working together was an obligation that made a difference.
“I am still getting calls from Helene about damage. I learned a lot after that hurricane. I hope that this effort opens young minds to solve difficult problems.”
The hurricane season is at its peak in September and October and doesn’t end until November 30.
Editor’s Note: Mitzi Oxford is a veteran broadcaster and features writer who also worked at the same television station in Columbus, Georgia, as Augusta’s Brad Means! If you have a South Carolina story idea for Mitzi, please email her at mitzioxfordcreative@gmail.com.
