Investing.com -- For victims of the devastating floods that have swept through Texas and Oklahoma this week, Anheuser-Busch Inbev SA (BRU:ABI) is making a concerted effort to convey the message that "this Bud's for you."
To that end, the world's largest brewer halted its beer production at its Cartersville, Georgia brewery on Wednesday night to produce an emergency supply of 50,000 cans of water. The company will donate the water to the American Red Cross, which in turn will distribute the cases to recipients in the two states over the next several days.
"It's something we're uniquely positioned to do in a very timely period," Cartersville brewery manager Rob Haas told NBC News.
It is not the first time the brewery has stopped production to provide an emergency water supply to the Red Cross. Over the past two decades, Anheuser-Busch and the Anheuser-Busch Foundation have contributed more than $515 million to charitable organizations, including those that support education, disaster relief, and military personnel, according to its website.
Over a 24-hour time span during Memorial Day Weekend, the Southwest Houston area was hit with nearly a dozen inches of rain or more than 10% of its average annual rainfall. On Friday, emergency officials said the death toll from the disaster climbed to 24, including 20 from Texas.
The economic impact from the flooding could cost the area anywhere from $210 and $560 million when lost homes, vehicles and businesses are taken into account, according to BBVA (MADRID:BBVA) Bancomer. The estimates also include losses in value added and tax revenues.
By comparison, Hurricane Ike in 2008 and Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 were responsible for creating losses of $154 and $6.7 billion respectively.
Anheuser-Busch operates 12 breweries worldwide, all of which are located in the U.S. The company's breweries have reduced water usage by 34% over the last three years, according to its website. The Cartersville brewery, which opened in 1993, is regarded as the most water-efficient brewery in the company's entire global community.