Companies in the business of preparing or recovering from natural disasters are outperforming the S&P 500.Asheville's rebuilding after Hurricane Helene shows them in action. Read The Big Take ⬇️ https://t.co/I8OaTNkDsf ...

Companies in the business of preparing or recovering from natural disasters are outperforming the S&P 500.Asheville's rebuilding after Hurricane Helene shows them in action. Read The Big Take ⬇️ https://t.co/9lOmFKhFGN ...

Companies in the business of preparing or recovering from natural disasters are outperforming the S&P 500.Asheville's rebuilding after Hurricane Helene shows them in action. Read The Big Take ⬇️ https://t.co/CS68wqTTFH ...

Companies in the business of preparing or recovering from natural disasters are outperforming the S&P 500.Asheville's rebuilding after Hurricane Helene shows them in action. Read The Big Take ⬇️ https://t.co/2EcxS3aTXx ...

Companies in the business of preparing or recovering from natural disasters are outperforming the S&P 500.Asheville's rebuilding after Hurricane Helene shows them in action. Read The Big Take ⬇️ https://t.co/QCpqo2rhDY ...

Costco Wholesale (NasdaqGS:COST) 2025 Update Summary Industry Overview - The conference call pertains to the retail industry, specifically focusing on Costco Wholesale's sales performance for the month of September 2025. Key Financial Metrics - **Net Sales**: $26.58 billion, an increase of 8% from $24.62 billion in September 2024 [2] - **Comparable Sales**: - US: 5.1% - Canada: 6.3% - Other International: 8.5% - Total Company: 5.7% - Digitally Enabled: 26.1% [2][3] - **Traffic Growth**: Comparable traffic increased by 2.1% worldwide and 1.4% in the US [4] - **Average Transaction Value**: Increased by approximately 3.5%, with a 3.8% increase when excluding gas deflation and foreign exchange impacts [5] Sales Performance Insights - **Regional Highlights**: - Strongest comparable sales in the US were observed in the Northwest, Midwest, and Los Angeles [5] - Internationally, the best results were in Korea, Australia, China, and Taiwan, driven by holiday shifts [6] - **Merchandising Performance**: - Food and sundries: Positive mid-single digits - Fresh foods: Up mid to high single digits, with strong performance in meat and bakery [6] - Non-foods: Positive high single digits, with jewelry, majors, and health and beauty performing well [7] - Ancillary business sales: Up mid-single digits, with pharmacy, hearing aid, and optical as top performers [7] External Factors Impacting Sales - **Gas Price Deflation**: Remained relatively flat, negatively impacting total reported comparable sales by less than 10 basis points [4] - **Foreign Exchange Impact**: - Canada: Negative impact of approximately -2.5% - Other International: Positive impact of approximately +1% - Total Company: Negative impact of approximately -0.2% [4] Future Outlook - The next reporting period will cover four weeks from October 6 to November 2, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024 [8]

Along Highway 321 is J&M Produce, a familyrun business still reeling from Helen. In 24 hours, our livelihood was gone. Storm damage was everywhere.While owner Cecilia Shore manages the repairs, her kids are keeping the business open. We can do this, but um as long as sales still come in, people come back to the mountains. Black Bear General Store.The fall is usually their busiest time of the year, but after Helen owner Sharon K. Gra says months went by with hardly any visitors. October is our make it or bre ...

FEMA & Disaster Recovery Overview - FEMA budgeted over $60 billion for disaster recovery in fiscal year 2025 [3] - Hurricane Helene caused over $78 billion in damages [5] - The River Arts District generates $1.3 billion in revenue, highlighting its economic importance [10] - FEMA paid out $4.5 billion in grants for resilient infrastructure, but funding was cut in 2025 [27] Challenges & Criticisms of FEMA - FEMA is managing a backlog of over 600 open major disaster declarations [4] - The Trump administration considered eliminating FEMA due to perceived lack of urgency and strong bureaucracy [4][5] - Many disaster requests were denied in 2025, raising concerns about political bias and understaffing [13][14] - The federal government paid out approximately 6% of the $59.6 billion in damage caused by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina as of May 2025 [22] Potential Solutions & Future Considerations - The administration wants to closely vet spending, which may slow down FEMA's operations [19] - Disaster mitigation or resilience building has a payoff of anywhere from 6 to 1 to 11 to 1 [27] - The government pays a maximum of $42,500 for housing related costs and the same amount for other needs for the uninsured [9]

Core Insights - Lowe's has committed nearly $14 million to response and recovery efforts for Hurricanes Helene and Milton, supporting immediate and long-term needs in affected areas [1][2] - The company is focused on recovery solutions, including skilled trades education, to aid the region's recovery while addressing current needs [2] - Lowe's is reopening its East Asheville store after flood damage, with over 100 original employees returning, demonstrating its commitment to community support [3] Company Overview - Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company with over 1,700 stores and approximately 300,000 employees, serving around 16 million customer transactions weekly in the U.S. [4] - The company reported total fiscal year 2024 sales exceeding $83 billion, highlighting its significant market presence [4] - Lowe's engages in community support through programs aimed at safe housing, community improvement, skilled trades development, and disaster relief [4] Community Initiatives - Appalachia Service Project is providing temporary housing units for hurricane-affected residents, helping them recover with dignity and resilience [6] - The National Center for Construction Education and Research is launching a Rapid Recovery Construction Academy to offer free construction training and job placement services in disaster-impacted areas [6] - Purple Heart Homes is focusing on critical home repairs for service-connected disabled veterans in disaster-affected counties [6]

Core Viewpoint - Comcast is actively engaging in community building efforts in Augusta, focusing on enhancing digital literacy, providing resources for recovery from Hurricane Helene, and supporting local organizations to foster economic mobility and connectivity [1][3][6]. Group 1: Community Engagement and Support - Comcast opened a new Xfinity Store in Augusta, hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony with local community members and offering activities to foster community engagement [1]. - The company launched the Team Up employee volunteer program, encouraging community members to write letters to military personnel, showcasing its commitment to supporting those who serve [2]. - Comcast donated 75 laptops and $35,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Augusta to enhance digital literacy efforts [3]. Group 2: Disaster Relief and Recovery - Following Hurricane Helene, Comcast contributed $100,000 to United Way of Augusta and additional donations to various organizations to aid recovery efforts [6]. - The company provided over 1,400 cases of water to families affected by water pump damage in Richmond County and organized volunteer efforts to distribute food and resources [7]. - Comcast opened more than 360,000 Xfinity Wi-Fi Hotspots to ensure connectivity for residents during severe weather, benefiting both customers and non-customers [8]. Group 3: Economic Investment and Digital Inclusion - Over the past three years, Comcast has invested more than $3.1 billion in Georgia, focusing on digital skills development, expanding Wi-Fi-connected Lift Zones, and funding connectivity programs [10]. - Comcast's Lift Zones provide essential Internet access for students facing housing insecurity, supporting distance learning initiatives [4]. - The company's efforts are aimed at enabling online learning, telehealth services, and supporting small businesses, thereby fueling economic growth and digital inclusion [9].