Anheuser-Busch Halts Beer Production To Can Water For Texas & Oklahoma Flood Victims

Anheuser-Busch, the beer magnate most famous for brewing Budweiser, is showing some commendable morality in lieu of the devastating floods that have ravaged parts of Texas and Oklahoma in the past week’s time.

The mass beer distributor stopped beer production at its Cartersville brewery in Georgia on Wednesday night to instead change over the production line to can some 50,000 12oz. cans of water to aid the American Red Cross’s ongoing relief effort.

From NBC News:

“Right now our production line is running emergency drinking water instead of beer,” Cartersville brewery manager Rob Haas told NBC News.

The Cartersville brewery produces cans of emergency relief water a few times a year, Haas said, partnering with the American Red Cross to provide to places in need within the United States.

“It’s something we’re uniquely positioned to do in a very timely period,” he said.

About 2,000 cases, each carrying 24 cans, are en route to communities in Texas and Oklahoma, he added. The water is expected to reach those areas within the next few days.

And if you’re unaware, the flooding situation in those states right now is beyond disastrous, so every little bit of aid helps improve the victims’ well-being, however marginally.

Red Cross spokesman Jordan Scott said the organization had been working with Anheuser-Busch, one of their disaster relief partners, to iron out the logistics of the water shipments and what areas they were needed the most.

“Oklahoma and Texas are in an unprecedented situation,” Scott said. “There are a lot of folks in need and everyone’s coming forward to help out.”

Scott said the additional drinking water would be “critical” to relief efforts in the area.

Heavy storms and floods in Texas and Oklahoma this week have left at least 25 people dead, more than a dozen missing, and thousands of homes damaged. The rainfall was enough to fully reverse a drought afflicting the area for the last five years, according to meteorologists.

It’s a great thing the folks at Anheuser-Busch or doing. Sacrificing their time and surely the bottom-line to help those gravely in need. Great execution of corporate responsibility, guys.

Hang in there, Texas and Oklahoma – some cold ones are on the way!

[via NBC News]