‘At the end of September, Hurricane Helene traveled across the Southeastern United States, causing damage in many of the locations Columbus McKinnon operates in and serves. Ken Tilson, a volunteer firefighter and one of CMCO’s business development managers who lives in Southwest Virginia, experienced the effects of the hurricane.
“Everything happened so quick,” he said. “It was like you flipped a switch, and once it started, there really wasn’t any time for preparation.” Rivers and streams, overfull with rainfall, were so forceful they deposited rocks, timber, and other debris into homes, businesses, and roads. These high waters disrupted many roadways, and, in some cases, completely washed them away, making travel and rescue operations difficult.
“It was devastating, but the effort people have been making to help the area recover has been humbling. I’ve seen people from all different states bringing trucks of hay so farmers can feed their livestock. Neighbors were using ATVs and side by sides to reach stranded people to check on their well-being and deliver food and water supplies. And that kind of thing is going on in every community,” added Tilson.
Columbus McKinnon’s own Damascus, VA, facility was affected, and several local employees experienced significant personal loss. As part of the community that continues to recover, we are also lending our support. We have coordinated with local organizations, including the United Way of Southwest Virginia, North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, and United Way of Eastern Tennessee Highlands, and donated time, equipment, and supplies to aid in the recovery effort, but we want to do more. Therefore, we’re pleased to announce that we’re enacting a program to further assist the community we are a part of.
Damascus Recovery Program
From now until the end of December, Columbus McKinnon will be donating a portion of its powered chain and air chain hoist sales to charitable organizations in impacted areas. The specific models eligible for this program are manufactured locally at our Damascus facility, products made in the region by people in the region.’
