Capt. Andrew Bennett from Florida Air National Guard assists Team Leader Randy Bell of Golden Eagle Distributing,
Inc., in Paducah, in loading a shipment of canned water donated by A-B bound for ice storm evacuees in Ballard County
in Kentucky.
Anheuser-Busch Delivers Canned Water to Kentucky Storm Victims
PADUCAH (Feb. 09, 2009) -- On Jan. 27, ice storms left nearly 2.2 million Kentucky utility customers without power and caused early estimated damages in excess of $45 million. Many Kentuckians in Paducah sought refuge in the American Red Cross shelter at the National Guard Armory. Anheuser-Busch was there providing more than 3,200 cases – or approximately 78,000 cans – of drinking water to residents across the state.
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear expressed his appreciation to Anheuser-Busch for the ongoing water donation. "People who have been trying to ride out this storm may be running low on supplies and this donation of drinking water from Anheuser-Busch is helping us to meet a critical need right now. We're grateful for their help," Beshear said. The first shipment arrived just days after the storm first hit and subsequent deliveries continued into the following week.
The water was shipped to Anheuser-Busch wholesalers Golden Eagle in Paducah and Kentucky Eagle Beer, Inc. in Lexington. Both distributors are working closely with their local mayors, county judge-executives, the Kentucky Department for Public Health and other local emergency services to distribute the water to local residents in neighboring counties. Some 101 counties and 75 cities throughout Kentucky received disaster declaration to gain federal assistance.
The drinking water was packaged at the Anheuser-Busch Jacksonville, Fla., brewery and Metal Container Corporation supplied the cans from its plant in Jacksonville.