While small businesses across Richmond County are fighting their way back from Hurricane Helene, the county’s largest businesses are assessing their situation.
“Most of our industries, from what I can tell, were spared,” Cal Wray, President of the Augusta Economic Development Authority (AEDA) told ABD. “Several of the larger ones were without power for four or five days. The last big one that I knew that came back online was last Wednesday. Think most of our manufacturing is back up and running.”
A number of the largest employers are in the middle of construction projects to finish, or expand, their facilities.
“Our new construction projects are Aurubis. There was just cosmetic damage, no major impediments to construction,” said Wray. “And then, like Standard Aero at the airport, Textron, most of those guys, from what I can tell, are back up and running after just a few days of downtime.”
Tashara Johnson, Lead HR Generalist for Aurubis Richmond, LLC, confirmed that for ABD.
“The trailers had minor damage, and through it all, we had power and water. We are back to normal operations on Monday,” she said, adding, “For the employees who are unable to come back onsite, we are working with them.”
One employee, Montrell Hammond, said a tree crushed his vehicle and the home he shared with his fiancé.’
“They’re (his supervisors) very concerned, you know, they’re asking people, are they okay like family, I’ve never seen a company like that before. They really love their employees,” he said.
They found a new place to live. He has a replacement vehicle and is back at work.
“Just getting in a routine. I just got a routine down pat and just coming in and knock out whatever they need me to do,” he said.
Another employee, Maurice Wells, said it was challenging at first for him and his family. They lost both power and water.
“I lost a few shingles off the roof. My storage house was messed up, a couple of my cars got damaged, but I’m in good health, my family was good so, it could have been a whole lot worse,” he said, adding he had been with his previous employer 13 years, but left to join Aurubis and was glad he did.
“They took care of us. They called, they sent an email, and told us, if we need anything don’t hesitate to call. They also had items that employees could get far as water, charcoal, flashlights, and stuff like that. I’ve never had a company to do anything like that before,” he said.
Wray said some of the large employers are looking for ways to help the community in addition to their employees.
“I think all of them are going out, asking how they can give back to the community. How can their employees donate time?” he said. “I’ve talked to a few of our industries who offered their employees. ‘If you go donate your time to help clean up the community, we’re going to pay you your normal hourly rate to do it.’ So, I think a lot of them are seeing how they can help the community and their employees because all of their employees were impacted.”
As ABD has previously reported, the local Chambers of Commerce have also jumped in, offering help and asking what all businesses need.
Within days after the storm moved through, six Chambers, Greater Augusta Metro, Columbia, Burke and McDuffie Counties, North Augusta, and Aiken, along with the Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce created links to local, state, and federal government agencies that can help. It includes connections to federal funding and state resources, plus clean-up resources and relief sites. They are also asking businesses to tell the Chambers what they need.
The information has been posted on the websites of all six Chambers and shared through their social media.
Kenya Calhoun, Thomson McDuffie Chamber
https://www.thomsonmcduffiechamber.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ThomsonMcDuffieChamberofCommerce/
Terra Carroll, North Augusta Chamber
https://www.facebook.com/GNACOC
Angie Cox, Augusta Metro Chamber
https://www.augustametrochamber.com/
https://www.facebook.com/AugustaMetroChamber
Russell Lahodny, Columbia County Chamber
https://www.columbiacountychamber.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ColumbiaCountyChamber
Ashley Roberts, Burke County Chamber
https://burkechamber.org/
https://www.facebook.com/burkecountychamberga
Jim Tunison, Aiken Chamber of Commerce
https://www.aikenchamber.net/
https://www.facebook.com/AikenChamber
Ronic West, Greater Augusta Black Chamber
https://www.facebook.com/mygabc
