WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — People who evacuated because of the fire are close to getting home, but small businesses within that one-mile radius of the plant are also feeling the strain and facing a number of challenges.
Many off Indiana Avenue and Cherry Road around the one-mile radius say they are devastated as they are not able to run their business as normal, hitting them financially after an already hard couple of years with COVID-19.
They’re just hoping they’ll receive some kind of help.
[ PAST COVERAGE: Chief says fertilizer plant explosion risk ‘greatly diminished;’ some can return home ]
“We just have to take it day by day and wait by the television to see if we are going to be approved to go back just to open the door,” Tarreyton Carson, owner of Zael’s Florist, told WXLV in Winston-Salem.
Carson’s Shop is off Indiana Avenue and sits right next door to the plant, forcing him to be closed for days.
“To be out for 4-5 days at Valentine’s where we are not able to do anything, which is a lot of our business is walk-in customers,” Carson said.
Carson’s calling it a triple whammy, dealing with COVID, winter storms and now, the fertilizer plant fire, leaving his flowers wilting away.
“When trucks, FedEx trucks or flower trucks can’t get in to deliver the flowers to us, we can’t, there’s no way we can produce these and process them and make them ready for Valentine’s Day,” Carson said.
[ READ MORE: Rain helps suppress fertilizer plant fire, but explosion risk remains ]
“Even what I do during the day, that FedEx facility is back there too, and they aren’t able to do anything right now either, so I’m waiting on parts for my normal job,” said Brian Hawks.
Hawks is also the owner of AML Wrestling on Cherry Street.
The students who are trained in professional wrestling have an event next week, but the fertilizer plant fire, however, could change those plans.
“I would like to get in there and at least see if there is any smoke damage because we are directly across the street from the fertilizer plant,” Hawks said.
The AML Wrestling owner had to cancel his training sessions all week. Now, he’s just concerned for his equipment and production truck.
“Our equipment is actually stored in the facility that we travel with, as well, our truck is behind there,” Hawks said.
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Winston-Salem Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tempore Denise D. Adams says without a doubt, she’s going to take care of her citizens and ensure everyone is safe.
“It’s my job to go find out what are the funding mechanisms that are in place on the local level, the county level, the state level and the federal level, to ensure that the constituents and the businesses are compensated with something to help them become whole again,” Denise said.
“Hopefully, the Weaver Fertilizer Plant takes some kind of responsibility with the local businesses around there that’s lost income,” Hawks said.
During today’s presser, the councilwoman says she realizes the frustrations of the community, but she said it takes time to dig into the Weaver Fertilizer Plant’s insurance.
[ READ ALSO: Worker’s body found after fire at QVC facility in North Carolina ]
In the meantime, United Way of Forsyth County has a list of resources for those impacted by the Weaver Plant Fire.
United Way contacted community partners with resources that might benefit individuals impacted by the Weaver Plant fire and provided a list of those organizations to NC 211, the most comprehensive source of information about local resources and services in the county.
The service is powered by multilingual, caring experts who are available to help, 24/7. Individuals can dial 211 to be connected to a trained specialist. Calls to 211 are confidential and can be anonymous.
(WATCH BELOW: More than 6K evacuees can’t return home yet after NC fertilizer plant fire)
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