Brewery Cans Water To Help With Hurricane Harvey Relief

Though they’re mostly known for their beer, Anheuser-Busch has paused production of the alcoholic beverage at their Catersville, Georgia plant in order to start canning fresh water, hoping to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey find a safe source of fluids.

CBS details the company’s decision, reporting how one emergency shipment has already mad it to the American Red Cross camp in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Two more shipments will soon arrive in Arlington, Texas, as well.

“Putting our production and logistics strengths to work by providing safe, clean drinking water is the best way we can help in these situations,” said Anheuser-Busch’s Vice President for Community Affairs Bill Bradley. In total, more than 155,000 cans of water are being donated entirely for free by the company thanks to its emergency drinking water program.

This is not a new development, though, as the company has periodically stopped production of beer to can water during states of emergency for decades. Since 1988, Anheuser-Busch has given away over 76 million cans worth of water to different national crises. In 2016, they were one of the many organizations that helped with the still-ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan, Hurrican Matthew victim relief, and the California wildfires.

“Throughout the year, we periodically pause beer production at our Cartersville, Georgia brewery to produce emergency canned drinking water so we are ready to help out communities across the country in times of crisis,” said Brewmaster Sarah Schilling. The Cartersville plant typically switches from production of its 24 different kinds of beer to water twice a year to prepare for different disasters, hoping to have a head start when things go wrong in the world.

Hurricane Harvey has caused widespread destruction as it hit landfall earlier in the week. Massive flooding has been reported across the state of Texas, leaving many without a home or safe drinking water. Despite the immense amount of rainfall already caused, experts believe the worst may be on its way.

For more information on how you can help those affected by Hurricane Harvey, visit the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster website to learn what’s needed and what you can do right now.