Georgia IP employees rally to support community after flooding

In times of great need, people turn to family and friends for support. But what about your larger community, your coworkers, and the businesses that operate nearby? It is important to plan for unexpected setbacks, but sometimes even the best of us are caught off guard by environmental shocks. Because International Paper operates in over 100 locations across the United States, we need to be prepared for every possible natural disaster—not only to operate in our capacity as a federally designated “essential business”, but also to assist our team members and their families in any way possible. In turn, our team members extend this support to their own communities. This circular support network brings us closer together as Americans.  

In September 2022, significant flooding impacted Georgia and much of the Southeast. In just two days, Northwest Georgia received 12 inches of rain, which overloaded infrastructure and left thousands of residents without clean water for multiple days. Residents of Summerville, about 30 miles from the nearest International Paper facility, were required to boil water due to filter plant flooding. While safely managing flooding at the mill site itself, team members from the International Paper Rome, Ga. Containerboard Mill volunteered to load and deliver pallets of bottled water to local community members for distribution on several separate occasions. 

Auston Thomas, purchasing and storeroom manager, led the donation process and volunteered his own time following delivery to help unload other deliveries as well. “I want to thank the mill team for keeping everyone safe on site during this rain event as well as supporting our community members who were living without water," said Rome mill manager Clay Ingram. “This is another example of the way that International Paper aims to improve the lives of those in the communities where we live and work."  
 

This is another example of the way that International Paper aims to improve the lives of those in the communities where we live and work.