September 2024
Over the weekend of September 27-29, the mountains of Western North Carolina experienced an unprecedented, record-breaking weather event causing catastrophic damage to countless homes, businesses and wiping out entire towns in our region. Due to the significant damage at our facility caused by Hurricane Helene, the Diamond Brand factory will be closed for the foreseeable future as we assess the situation and ensure the safety of our employees.
The Cane Creek Industrial Complex where we operate was submerged under several feet of water, causing severe damage to our roads, parking lot, equipment, materials, offices and facilities. Our team is in varying states of evacuation and recovery, some without access to their homes. The majority of our region is without power or running water, and we are also experiencing widespread connectivity issues affecting phone and internet services.
The well-being of our team and community is our top priority at this time. We understand the negative impact this will have on our operations and customers, and we apologize for this inconvenience this may cause. This unfathomable natural disaster has been completely outside of our control, or realm of experience. In the 140 year history of this company, we’ve never experienced something like this before, so we’re all learning and figuring it out as we go.
We appreciate your patience and support during this difficult chapter. Over the next few months you can expect some delays in our response times as our employees work to find reliable internet and phone access, and of course significant delays in our manufacturing and shipping as our factory remains inoperable in its current state. Please know that we are trying our absolute best with the limited resources we have.
Western North Carolina is more than just where we work—it’s our home, and our hearts are heavy seeing the devastation and tragedy caused by the recent storm. The communities here are our family, and witnessing the damage and suffering has left us in tears. Our hearts go out to all of our family, friends, neighbors, partners and customers who were also affected, and we are holding them close in thought and prayer as we all navigate the challenges ahead.
This flood will go down as a pivotal moment in Diamond Brand’s long history and heritage. We have 100 years behind us, and we intend to have 100 more.
In an effort to keep our spirits high we may keep posting on social media and sending our email newsletters “as normal”, but please know that behind the scenes we are working tirelessly to get back to doing what we love—crafting the best tents on the market and serving the adventurers who inspire us daily.
Until then, please stay safe, take care of each other, and know that we will come through this more resilient, and grateful, than ever before. We are #WNCStrong and together we will get through this, rise up and rebuild.
All the love,
Team Diamond Brand
October 2024
On October 1, the Diamond Brand Leadership team met remotely to discuss a formal plan for disaster recovery and restoration and the company’s continuation of critical business functions.
- damage assessment
- safety and PPE measures
- crisis communication strategies
- clean-up and restoration
- return of operations
- inventory assessment
- and more
Our immediate priority remains the safety and well-being of our team, ensuring that all employees are safe and supported during this challenging time. As such, our operations will remain closed through October 11th as we finalize damage assessments and wait for essential municipal services to be restored for power, water and phone utilities.
In the coming weeks and months will be actively working on water, mud and debris removal at the factory, dehumidification and repairs to the building, insurance paperwork and processing, and clarifying details around staffing and payroll. If some of our materials are salvageable we also hope to contribute to local relief efforts y providing resources like tarps and tents to assist those needing temporary housing.
We are deeply grateful for the strength, resiliency and unity displayed by our team and the broader community. Collaborative team efforts such as chainsaw work, resource management and distribution, and wellness checks have been crucial in these days following the storm.
Despite the challenges ahead of us, we are optimistic about rebuilding stronger, while continuing to uphold the values of transparency and integrity that have defined our company for generations. To our customers, investors, vendors and partners, we thank you for your ongoing support and understanding as we navigate the recovery process. We will continue to share updates as we move forward together.