Much is made of the vaunted Georgia Power Storm Center but another emergency monitoring center is also a critical part of the process in emergency weather management and recovery, Atlanta-based Home Depot. Not only are stores and their massive inventories critical in the lead-up to storms – selling lumber generators and numerous other materials for storm preparation – but also of course in the clean-up phase, putting houses and businesses back together whether wind or water did the damage.
“When hurricanes strike, our communities count on us as a partner in storm preparation and disaster recovery,” said Home Depot corporate in a statement. “As always during times of crisis and natural disaster, we’re here to help communities, and our number one concern is the safety of our associates and customers.”
Stores remain open as long as it is safe to do so and the Disaster Response Command Center helps to monitor damage and inventories to get supplies where they are most needed. More than 100 experts from the merchandising, operations, supply chain, and technology teams at Home Depot work around the clock to send essential supplies. Home Depot also offers a location where customers know they are unlikely to face gouging of prices, a trusted community partner that customers know will be there when it is time to come back and rebuild.
In the lead-up to Hurricane Milton, Home Depot sent 500 additional truckloads of essential storm supplies to potentially impacted areas. After the storm, pre-staged trucks are placed as close to storm strike zones as possible with items like gas cans, generators, trash bags and chain saws. Not to mention Home Depot parking lots immediately become home to mobile command centers for communities, first responders and other recovery efforts.
The Home Depot Foundation is also committed to recovery efforts. Home Depot is as plugged in as any business to what it takes for storm recovery and the Home Depot Foundation is in a unique position to supply assistance to where it is most needed. They have already given $2 million to support relief efforts following Hurricane Helene and are likely to contribute further after Hurricane Milton.
That $2 million went to numerous other partners, including Convoy of Hope and the Virginia-based Operation Blessing – which distribute items like food, water and cleaning supplies; World Central Kitchen – which has already been serving means in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina; Team Rubicon and Inspiritus which are conducting damage assessments and assisting with debris removal; and ToolBank Disaster Services that are supplying tools and equipment to local organizations to support cleanup.
“Our thoughts are with the communities that have been impacted by Hurricane Helene,” said Erin Izen, executive director of The Home Depot Foundation. “The Foundation and Team Depot are working alongside our disaster relief partners to assist the people and areas impacted by this catastrophic storm.”
