LEXINGTON, S.C. (BRAIN) — The sun is shining and waters are receding in South Carolina, but the bicycle industry — along with hundreds of other businesses — took a hit as floodwaters ravaged parts of Columbia and Charleston as well as other sections of the state.
Steve Hawley, president of Lexington-based distributor The Hawley Co., said Tuesday that there were no injuries among his staff. Hawley is also taking and shipping orders now that some roads have reopened, a curfew in the metro Columbia area has been lifted to midnight, and FedEx and limited load carriers are picking up packages.
“First and foremost, thankfully all of our staff is OK. Some are without electricity and tap water, but overall we’re doing fine. I can’t say the same for many others in South Carolina – the flooding and damage is massive,” he said.
The overall impact of this 1-in-1,000-year storm on the overall distribution and sale of bicycles, parts and accessories in South Carolina will be impacted — at least temporarily — by the record flood, road closures and burst dams.
In an interview with BRAIN, Hawley said he was uncertain as to how the massive flooding has affected retailers throughout the region, but is certain that dealers in Charleston have been hit hard. “Charleston floods a lot anyway since it’s set in a low area,” he said.
Hawley said it began raining hard Saturday and through Sunday. Some staff, about one-third, made it in to work on Monday, but it wasn’t until late in the day that Hawley learned that FedEx and other carriers would pick up packages. “It was a real challenge yesterday,” he said. “UPS was closed and there was nothing definitive from FedEx.”
A major complicating factor for transportation-driven businesses like Hawley has been the partial shutdown of I-95, a major north-south artery, as well as hundreds of other roads awaiting safety inspection before reopening, he said. Hawley's primary distribution area includes the East Coast, the Midwest, and parts of the Southwest. Hawley also has a distribution center in Sparks, Nevada.
“I’ve had numerous emails and calls from friends in the industry concerned about our safety. I’m very appreciative of those who are thinking about us and have reached out and offered help. For those who want to help, I would encourage a donation to the American Red Cross. They have done a fantastic job at helping those who were displaced from homes by providing them with a place to sleep, meals and clean water,” Hawley said.
“It’s amazing how life changes — it’s just so fast when it happens,” Hawley added.
