Helping Atlanta Flood Victims--A Personal Perspective

The recent disastrous floods affecting many parts of Georgia has truly been an eye-opening experience. As a company that deals with insurance claims, it was astounding to see how many homeowners were blindsided by the lack of flood insurance coverage in their policies. I can only imagine how devastated and helpless these individuals felt when presented with the loss of material possessions and possible displacement from their homes without any money to pay for restoration or replacement.
Many Champion employees, including the owner’s group, have had the opportunity to help some of the victims of this disaster by volunteering time on the weekends for the past month to help organize efforts getting victims governmental assistance as well as lending storm damage expertise, experience and equipment in quickly drying out the structures of homes in the Douglasville, Stone Mountain, Decatur and surrounding Metro-Atlanta areas.
I have had the pleasure of helping with this relief effort and it gives me a sense of accomplishment to be able to help those in need. When catastrophic things happen, we have the tendency to feel helpless. We want to do something, but we don’t know what or how. Now, on the weekends, I know that I am going to go to someone’s home, hear their story and sympathize with them. But I also know that I can help them do something about it because I’m going to assess the damage, mark it for demolition, sanitize it and set equipment so that the first phase to restoration will be put in motion. And that, readers, is far more satisfying than any paycheck could ever be.
Chloe L. Hudson-Senior Contents Technician