LUMBERTON — Renovation work has begun to accelerate at The Robesonian newspaper office, which suffered damage and other losses totaling about $1.8 million during Hurricane Matthew, with hopes that employees will be able to return to work there within three months.

“It’s been a very challenging time since Matthew hit, not only for our employees who have labored to continue to put out the product, but for our readers, subscribers and advertisers,” said Denise Ward, the publisher of The Robesonian. “We are excited that the recovery is gaining traction, and look forward to the normalcy that returning to a nice, renovated office will provide. We are so thankful for the patience of those people we serve.”

Pete Fleming, the director of Operations for Civitas Media, which is headquartered in Davidson, is in charge of bringing the 36,500-square-foot building at 2175 Roberts Ave. back to life. He recalled Oct. 8, the day of the hurricane, and a phone call he did not expect.

“Mike Skipper, one of our best production directors and a lifelong resident of Lumberton, began forwarding reports and sending pictures to inform me that this situation was unlike any he had been through,” Fleming said. “His photos, taken well before the water crested, were alarming to say the least and although I realized the potential magnitude of the situation, nothing prepared me for the reality of what I found upon arriving. Homes flooded, cars swept off roads, refugees fleeing neighborhoods as the water continued to rise, and access to Lumberton — the island — was severely compromised.”

After the storm, the newsroom continued operating with limited staff, working remotely and primarily using www.robesonian.com and Facebook to disseminate need-to-know news. Five print editions were missed, although an E-edition was published every day.

The newspaper’s press, which also publishes editions for four sister newspapers, was spared when the rising water stopped within a inch of its motor, and began printing editions again 18 days after the storm. In the interim, those publications were printed in Mt. Airy, a five-hour drive away.

“Most shocking was that our team showed up for work in the most difficult of situations — some living in shelters, others in cars — and all of them wanting to help get The Robesonian back on its feet,” Fleming said. “This was their way of restoring normalcy to a very trying predicament. My role for Civitas Media in restoring The Rob isn’t about just managing contractors, insurance companies or fighting federal bureaucracies but rather to repay our employees’ efforts, faith and desire to make The Robesonian whole again. There is light at the end of this journey.”

The newspaper’s staff has been scattered since, with the News, Circulation and Advertising departments operating out of a temporary office at 325 E. Fourth St. in downtown Lumberton. There is another temporary office at the Roberts Avenue building, where Ward, Clarissa Jackson, regional administrative assistant, and other staff can be found. That is the location to make payments for such things as classified ads and subscriptions.

The newspaper’s phone system, which was inoperable for awhile, is working with the same numbers that were used before the hurricane.

Fleming said the $1.8 million damage included the building, its contents, two vehicles, and also “business interruption,” which are costs related to outsourcing production, temporary housing, as well as lost revenue.

He noted that while many employees continued to work in the days and weeks following the storm, some were sidelined, but they did not lose salary. On Oct. 14, the company CEO, Lior Yahalomi, sent out this memo: “As we continue to work together to recover from the devastating impact that Hurricane Matthew has had on our employees, their families, our customers and everyone involved at the newspaper and graphics hub, the company will continue to pay all employees, at a minimum, their regularly scheduled hours or salary.”

Fleming said two local companies are being used as chief contractors — Nye Construction, which is performing the building retrofit, and Rooks Technologies, which is handling the digital network, and efforts are also being made to hire sub-contractors that are local when that is possible.

“Obviously this event and its aftermath were unexpected and unwelcome, but it has been heartwarming to see how our employees have responded and continue to respond,” Ward said, “and that extends to the entire Robeson County community, which has demonstrated a resilience and a spirit of generosity toward the many who have lost so much.

“We hope our newspaper can continue to be a positive part of the healing.”

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Donnie Douglas

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Editor Donnie Douglas can be reached at 910-416-5649.