Krystal lost its Ringgold, Ga., restaurant in the April 27 tornadoes, but the fast-food chain still was one of the first to feed first responders to the deadly storm.
Krystal rolled out its Crave Cruiser to feed the rescuers and survivors in the first days of the catastrophe. For days, the company ran back and forth to the worst-hit areas, from Cherokee Valley Road in Catoosa County to the destruction on Apison Pike.
"It was not publicized, we didn't go to the papers, and we didn't care," said Howard Nelson, vice president of operations. "The mayor [of Ringgold] was grateful because [the food] kept people there to unbury people and to find people."
Without food, first responders would have had to travel for miles to eat.
Krystal's site in Ringgold was a complete loss, though Nelson gave credit to store manager Chris Angle for herding employees and customers into the freezer, where they remained safe.