More than a week after Hurricane Helene made landfall, we would only call the current situation in North Carolina “a mess” if trying to win an award for understatement. The destruction—in an area once dubbed a “climate haven” because it was thought to be safe from extreme weather—was catastrophic. USA Today reported this week that 53 search-and-rescue teams have more than 1,600 people on the ground in the Tar Heel state alone, their work made more difficult by the remoteness of area communities and the challenging terrain.
Among the outpouring of charitable help, Honda has donated $500,000 to the American Red Cross for disaster relief in North Carolina. Honda has three manufacturing plants in the state, all in the upper central area well east of the hurricane damage. Two of those facilities are part of Honda Aircraft, and that subsidiary “is providing HondaJet to transport humanitarian relief aid to the hard-hit areas of the region.” The 43-foot-long twin-engine jet, able to carry up to seven passengers and one crew member, should make an ideal commuter transport.
Elsewhere in the Japanese conglomerate, Honda says it’s matching eligible employee donations up to $1,000 per person, and Honda will provide up to $200 in grants to eligible organizations that its employees volunteer with.
Finally, on the car-making and power sports sides, both American Honda Finance and Acura Financial Services (Acura is Honda’s premium car brand) are offering extensions on vehicle payments and deferrals on lease payments. If you own Honda products and your loan is through Honda, a note at the website advises, “If you have been impacted by recent hurricanes and require assistance, contact us for options.”
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