After Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina in September 2024, a large textile manufacturing plant suffered severe damage, with up to 30 inches of water flooding the facility. The company's immediate priority was ensuring the safety of the 219 team members at the plant, with some employees losing their homes. The recovery effort began by providing essential supplies such as food and water.
Photo: Dreamstime.
Over 3 million gallons of water were removed from the plant of Sunbrella's Burnsville, and extensive clean-up efforts, including the removal of ruined inventory and electrical motors, began. The plant gradually resumed limited operations within 33 days, despite the overwhelming destruction. 'The hard work and dedication this team had was incredible,' said Randy Blackston, vice president of operations.
Sunbrella's Burnsville plant has now returned to full production, and Blackston credits the team's resilience and collaboration with external partners for the fast recovery. The company has also committed to a $250 million investment to upgrade and expand production capabilities, positioning itself to better serve customers. Joey Davis, president of Glen Raven's Material Solutions Group, explained that investment in the business was critical to ensuring continued support for both customers and local communities, especially during such challenging times.
Source: www.designerstoday.com