In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastating path across Western North Carolina, where many communities have been without power and water for two weeks, craft spirits companies in the region have been helping provide potable water to residents.
In late September, the storm created catastrophic flooding and landslides that claimed hundreds of lives; destroyed homes and businesses; washed away roads; and knocked out electricity, water, internet and cell service across the Southeast. Asheville-based Eda Rhyne Distilling Co. suffered severe damage as a result of flooding.
William Goldberg of Black Mountain-based Oak and Grist Distilling Co. says his distillery was in large part spared of damage and that all employees were safe. In the days after the storm, Oak and Grist employees ran supplies and conducted wellness checks in the area, and Goldberg says he helped deliver hundreds of gallons of water across his community thanks to a reserve supply from the distillery’s tanks. “They told folks to fill up their bathtubs, but if you’re anything like me, I don’t have a bathtub in my house. It’s just a shower,” says Goldberg, the distillery’s co-founder and head distiller. “There’s definitely a lot of people who just didn’t have water, especially in those first few days.”
Those reserve supplies are depleted, but Goldberg says the distillery continues to offer potable water on site thanks to Morganton-based Fonta Flora Brewery, which filled up and delivered totes of fresh water to Oak and Grist.
Asheville-based Chemist Spirits also began offering clean water. Chemist’s production team has been sourcing the water from South Carolina fire departments and locals with deep wells. All of Chemist’s employees are safe and the distillery’s downtown location has reopened its tasting room with limited hours. However, the distillery announced it had been working on construction of a second location in the heavily-damaged Biltmore Village area. An email from the company says that the building is structurally sound and repairs are in the works.
Like many businesses affected by the storm, Oak and Grist and Chemist have established online fundraisers to help support their employees and are encouraging customers to purchase their products in stores and online (see links below).
Goldberg hopes that support will spread to all businesses in the area.
“Go to their website, see what they’ve got for sale, buy something from them,” says Goldberg. “Every little bit helps. Check in with some of your favorite businesses. They may need help.”
Help support Eda Rhyne Distilling Co.’s staff:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-eda-rhyne-staff-after-hurricane-helene?attribution_id=sl%3Aed2444aa-59eb-4108-806e-4ff0e2886c8d&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp8_t3&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaaqR59AOdg8pHoh2pr5qnMUTmYYANdv0cIxP0v4mZODXNUh88qkgxnP-lU_aem_tvdVhUHWTcF6wxXlWdXXUw
Help support Oak and Grist’s staff:
Buy Oak and Grist products online:
https://www.oakandgrist.com/spirits
Help support Chemist’s staff:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/jd8vs-help-our-team-recover-from-hurricane-helene
Buy Chemist products online: