Nine Line Prepares for Hurricane Matthew admin October 5, 2016 Nine Line News 518 Following the devastation in the Caribbean, Americans in the coastal states of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, are already preparing for the worst. The governors of these states have preemptively issued a State of Emergency for the areas most likely to be affected by the onslaught of Matthew, and residents are heading their governments’ advice. Across the Coastal Empire, residents are stocking up on emergency supplies, especially bottled water, canned goods, and propane. Cars are lining up at gas stations, with some customers filling up multiple gas canisters at the pumps as well. Here in Savannah, where Nine Line Apparel is located, wind and rain from the storm are expected to begin affecting the area Thursday evening. Schools throughout Chatham County have been closed throughout the rest of the week, and classes at SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) and Armstrong University have been cancelled, as well. Nearby, Tybee Island’s annual Pirate Fest, a major event marking the end of the tourist season, has been postponed, and islanders are boarding up businesses, government buildings, and homes. At Nine Line Apparel, supervisors have already begun working with employees to keep the business functioning, while making sure that the employees and their families are safe. “We ask for your prayers for the entire east coast,” owner Daniel Merritt said on Wednesday. “I’m sending all of our employees home. We have 140 great Americans that work here at Nine Line Apparel, and as of tomorrow they’re all going to be evacuating out of Savannah.” After safety, the next biggest concern for the company is preventing any delays in order fulfillment. “If your orders are a few days late, I really apologize,” Merritt said in a statement to customers on Wednesday. “We will get your packages to you as soon as humanly possible.” Office staff are planning to work remotely once the storm hits, and production staff are working diligently to continue to fulfill as many orders as possible before the storm strikes. In addition to maintaining operations, Nine Line is also doing whatever they can to protect the warehouses. With rainfall expected to be between 10 and 15 inches inland, measures have been taken to prevent any flooding or destruction to the property. Sand bags have been laid to deflect surging waters, repairs have been made to structures, and all equipment and supplies are being secured inside the buildings. The eye of Hurricane Matthew is expected to hit the Savannah area on Friday.
