MADISON COUNTY, AL - Business is booming for local contractors as storm victims begin repairing their damaged homes.
Although the circumstances are unfortunate, contractors say it’s helping them create new jobs.
Anderson Hills resident Bob Long looks on as roofers repair his tornado-damaged home. They began as soon as Long received his insurance check. He says, “We need to get the roof fixed and get the house kept dry first, before we see to any of the other damage."
But Long says hiring roofers was just the beginning: “I need windows, doors, flooring, sheet rock and paint, insulation, so other than that, not much!"
Long's situation isn't unique. His roofing contractor, C & K Roofing, says their business has skyrocketed since the tornadoes tore through Alabama.
C & K Roofing Sales Director John Steger explains, "We have four roofing crews now working full-time, and we can't keep up."
Steger says his company is buying new equipment and hiring more employees: “We don't have a limit right now. We're just trying to reach max capacity and we haven't reached it yet."
C & K Roofing isn’t alone; Joe Webster Tree Care is also expanding, so they can help remove the tens of thousands of fallen trees in the area.
Supervisor Bobby Wilbourn explains, "Out in the north Huntsville, Monrovia, Harvest area, we've had over 70 or 75 calls already.”
There’s still a lot of work left to be done, keeping contractors busy. But Wilbourn knows the spike in business won't last forever: “Like any series of storms, it's not going to be a really long-lived thing, a year, maybe, and then it starts to trickle back down to what the economy can handle."
But regardless of whether business eventually trickles back down, right now Wilbourn says he's simply glad to help. He explains, “Those who have lost everything, it's a tragedy for them, and we're here to help as much as we can."
If you need to hire a contractor, remember to choose a local company to protect yourself from fraud, and check out any company you're thinking of hiring through the Better Business Bureau.
