Greenville Businesses Unite for Recovery After Tropical Storm Helene Devastation

Greenville Businesses Battle On: Road to Recovery After Tropical Storm Helene

Damage and Hope

Following the devastating effects brought on by Tropical Storm Helene to the Upstate region, businesses are left in a pile of damages, power outages, and losses – but hope is in sight. Physical and financial relief is paramount and thankfully, a myriad of avenues for federal assistance, including disaster relief, have opened up since September 25.

Tropical Storm Helene left businesses like the Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery suffering from flood damage, lost products, and even stolen generators during its three-day power outage. Yet, amidst the turmoil, the businesses’ owners, Jac Oliver and Mary Walsh, speak of a community well-versed in resilience.

Help on the Horizon

Small Business Administration Administrator Isabel Guzman paid a visit to our hard-hit Greenville business, Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery, and other areas impacted by the storm. It’s an act not just symbolic in nature, but significant in terms of recovery. She discussed plans in place to help businesses get back on their feet through the help of loans and financial resources.

One might ask: “With physical and financial distress, how can businesses find the time to reach out for help?” Well, that’s where individuals like Guzman step in. The goal: ensure everyone is aware of, and can advantage of, these resources being provided by the federal government. Not to mention, local agencies such as OneSpartanburg have been working tirelessly to connect locals with disaster relief. They too, like many others, believe in our business community’s resilience and ability to recover….just as they did through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resilience In Action

We’ve seen resilience in John Bauknight’s story, the owner of Rockers Brewing Co. and Restaurant, who despite a loss around $45,000 managed to set up a food truck to feed community members with the last of its food before it went bad. His words encapsulate the encompassing spirit in the wake of this disaster: “All in all, not terrible, and certainly (there are) people a whole lot worse off than we were.”

Moving Forward

Our business community is a true testament to resilience and determination, constantly navigating uncertainties whilst making a difference. We’ve weathered the storm, and now, we gather our strength once again to rebuild, recover, and rise.

Stay Informed and Alert

Knowing there is a lot of misinformation and uncertainty out there, we want to emphasize how critical it is to stay informed and skeptical of information not coming from a reliable source. Let’s focus on the recovery and support each other. Together, we can restore our community and thrive again in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene.