Mobile laundry, hot showers, and hygiene services help families and first responders begin the road to recovery after catastrophic flash flooding.
BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — In the wake of devastating flash flooding that swept through north-central West Virginia, Procter & Gamble is bringing more than supplies to affected communities—it’s helping restore dignity, comfort, and a sense of normalcy.
Working alongside humanitarian partner Matthew 25: Ministries and Walmart, Procter & Gamble activated its Disaster Relief Program in Buckhannon following storms that dropped more than seven inches of rain across the region. The flooding triggered mudslides, washed out roads, damaged homes and businesses, and prompted numerous emergency rescues as communities faced widespread destruction.
Beginning July 24, residents and first responders gained access to free Tide Loads of Hope mobile laundry services, hot showers, ADA-accessible shower facilities, and personal care products at the Walmart Supercenter in Buckhannon. Families can bring up to two loads of clothing to be professionally washed, dried, and folded while also receiving personal hygiene essentials from trusted P&G brands.
The relief effort also includes the distribution of personal care kits filled with everyday necessities and cleaning products, helping flood survivors focus on rebuilding rather than worrying about basic household needs. Through its partnership with Matthew 25: Ministries, these supplies are being delivered directly into impacted communities where they are needed most.
“This week, powerful storms brought more than seven inches of rain to north-central West Virginia,” the company said in its announcement, noting that the resulting flash flooding caused “mudslides, road blockages, hazardous conditions, and widespread damage to homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure.”
Claude Zukowski, Senior Director of Community Impact at Procter & Gamble, emphasized the company’s longstanding commitment to serving communities during difficult times.
“P&G exists to serve consumers through trusted products that meet their everyday needs, and that commitment extends to times of disaster like this. By bringing our mobile laundry and shower services and essential personal care and hygiene products to communities impacted by the recent flooding in West Virginia, we can help restore a sense of comfort and routine for families and first responders so they can focus on recovery.”
The response reflects a disaster relief model P&G has refined over decades. Since launching Tide Loads of Hope in 2005, the company has deployed its mobile laundry units to disaster zones across the United States, partnering with nonprofit organizations and retailers to provide services that often become critical during the earliest stages of recovery.
Walmart has expanded the collaborative effort by providing additional support through meals, bottled water, donated cleaning supplies, and community relief services, reinforcing how businesses and nonprofit organizations can work together to strengthen disaster response.
As floodwaters recede, recovery will continue for weeks and months. For many families, however, something as simple as clean clothes, a hot shower, or basic hygiene supplies can provide reassurance that they are not facing the crisis alone.
“When communities face life’s most difficult moments, compassion becomes more than a feeling—it becomes action. Every hot shower, every load of clean laundry, and every helping hand reminds us that hope often arrives through ordinary acts of extraordinary kindness. That’s the Heartitude spirit we celebrate every day.” — Bruce Petillo, Founder, Heartitude
For more information about P&G’s Disaster Relief Program, visit the company’s disaster relief webpage.