Company donates proceeds to food bank

THOMASVILLE — Survive-a-Storm Shelters presented the Second Harvest of South Georgia Food Bank a check for $3,975 recently, the amount a percentage of sales during a specific period. The money is expected to be used to help with storm recovery efforts in the region.

Kaitlin Parramore, vice president of sales and marketing for Survive-a-Storm Shelters, and her team members decided to donate 5 percent of their sales to Second Harvest. For the tornado shelter company, the idea to donate to the nonprofit organization came as second-nature.

“We help save lives throughout the U.S. and tornado alley every year,” Parramore said. “The devastated parts of Albany, Adel and other areas in Southwest Georgia are right here in our own backyard, so, of course, we want to reach out and help our neighbors here, too.”

On Jan. 22-23, a series of tornadoes destroyed homes and businesses across Southwest Georgia, claiming the lives of 16 people. The tornadoes were unexpected and unusual, not only for this time of year, but also for this area. Survive-a-Storm Shelters knows the impact of tornadoes for those living throughout tornado alley; however, for folks living in South Georgia, the tornadoes came as a shock.

Sales of Survive-a-Storm Shelters storm have increased significantly since the beginning of January. Weather records indicate that this year has been the deadliest tornado season in more than nine years, with more than 300 tornadoes and 24 deaths to date.

“We have not even reached peak tornado season, which typically begins in March and runs through mid-June,” Parramore said.

Survive-a-Storm Shelters is the world’s leading producer and distributor of prefabricated steel above-ground and underground residential tornado shelters, community safe rooms and survival bunkers. A division of Harbor Enterprises LLC, the company is headquartered in Thomasville and has offices and installation across 35 states.