In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Eastman leaders have stepped up to ensure the safety and well-being of our team members and their families. When DMT-Glycol leaders heard stories about the widespread destruction across northeast Tennessee following Hurricane Helene, they quickly mobilized to provide support.
Their first step was ensuring appropriate staff levels on site. With this in place, they began flexing schedules to allow team members to volunteer when and where it was needed most. They started by supporting their colleagues who had been directly impacted by the hurricane and the flooding that followed.
They soon connected with one of their own, Randy Burgin, a maintenance coordinator at Eastman’s Kingsport site. Randy’s father and grandmother were stranded at home in Newland, North Carolina, near Roan Mountain. Their road had been washed away, and they had no way in or out.
In true Eastman spirit, Randy’s work family volunteered to help he and his son build a temporary road, ensuring his family had access to essential supplies. The team worked the rugged terrain with shovels and chainsaws to clear a path. They removed trees, dug out roots, moved boulders and fortified edges with trees and rocks. Before they were finished, a side by side came through carrying diapers, formula and other essentials for a family that lives just down the road.
“The main road won’t be repaired for months, but at least they now have access to essential supplies like food, water and fuel,” said John Frady, area manager, Glycols. “It was a team effort; operations and engineers on site added tasks to their already heavy workload without any complaint to give us the bandwidth to do this.”
The team continues to collect donations and make supply runs, delivering blankets and quilts as cold weather approaches. We are proud of our leaders and team members for their compassion and commitment to supporting each other and our communities.
#TheHEARTofEastman #HurricaneHeleneRelief
