Beer giant Anheuser-Busch cut production of its renowned American-style lager this week to instead produce drinking water for those affected by the recent storms and historic flooding across Texas and Oklahoma.
The company behind several major brands including Budweiser, Bud Light, and Michelob ULTRA is using its Cartersville, Georgia brewing facility to can water and provide critical relief for flood victims.
Anheuser-Busch is working with the American Red Cross among other community partners to ensure the water is delivered where needed:
"As part of a 25-year tradition of producing emergency drinking water, on May 21 Anheuser-Busch converted one of the seven packaging lines at its Cartersville brewery to can drinking water that the company will donate to the American Red Cross for use following natural and other disasters."
“Canning emergency water is something we are uniquely suited to do,” Cartersville brewery general manager Rob Haas said in a company press release. “We can very quickly ship drinking water to wherever it needs to be nationwide.”
“Relief workers and people in the community are in need of drinking water as they work to recover from the storms, and this is one way Anheuser-Busch can help our friends and neighbors,” he said.
On Wednesday alone, the Anheuser-Busch Georgia plant canned more than 35,000 cases of water, each carrying 24 cans, and intends to continue producing clean water for flood victims struggling to cope with and recover from the storms' damage.
According to the latest numbers available, the barrage of thunderstorms and widespread flooding left 26 dead and about a dozen others missing.
This isn’t the first time the American brewing company provided emergency relief for those in need.
Anheuser-Busch provided more than 50,000 cans of water for Oklahoma City residents impacted by the tornadoes and severe thunderstorms that wreaked havoc on the state of Oklahoma early May.
The brewer also routinely distributes emergency drinking water two to three times a year and keeps up to 70,000 cases available at all times to send immediately if and when disaster strikes.
The Anheuser-Busch Foundation is celebrating its "40th year of giving" this month, dating back to its relief efforts following the devastating San Francisco earthquakes of 1906.