In 2018, extreme weather affected communities across the globe with record-setting numbers of weather-related fatalities and devastation.

In the American states of North and South Carolina, it was Hurricane Florence that wreaked havoc:

120 mph (193 kmh) winds

20 foot (6 meter) storm surges

1 trillion gallons (3.7 trillion liters) of rain

4 million American southerners affected by the hurricane

While the storm was on it’s last day of destruction, Allstate Insurance’s heart-warming television spot featuring the “Angel Oak” tree in Johns Island, South Carolina, launched throughout the United States. This amazing tree, which some contend is 1,500 years old, is frequently described as the “oldest living thing in the country.” This tree has inspired countless photos, stories, poems and people over the centuries.

The Angel Oak has weathered more storms than all of us, and still stands as a symbol of the resilience and strength of the Carolina peoples.

Mere days after Hurricane Florence made landfall on the coastline of North and South Carolina, Allstate developed a film to deliver an uplifting message to those affected by the storm and help drive donations to the Red Cross. We crafted a humble sentiment of strength using only three ingredients: a tree, a song and an iconic voice. Instead of painting a picture of destruction and despondency, we inspired the nation with a local symbol of resilience.