Industry's eye on the hurricane

(continued from pagc I 4) nationwide panic buying, G-P also froze p,rices on southern pine sheathing grade plywood across tbe country through September, although tbey feared that even with plans running at capacity, they might not be able to meet expocted demand.

The costliest stonn in U.S. hisory forced millions to evacuate as winds up to 160 mph sruck Florida Aug. 23 andZy'', killing 15 and causing $15 to $20 billion in damages, then turned on the Louisiana coastline Aug. 26. Overnight literally hundreds of thousands suddenly found tbemselves homeless, and many retail stores stayed open 24 hours a day to help. Yards remained open despite losing roofs, sheds, inventory and elecrical power, and dannge to the homes of owners and employees.

Jeff Cardinale, C:rdinal Lumber & Supply, Patterson, La., was so busy trying to make sure his customers had some sort of shelter that two weeks later he still hadn't had a chance to look at damages to his own roof, sheds and materials.

Home Depot suffered extensive damage to its Perrine, Kendall and three-day-old Cutla Ridge, Fl., yards and was forced to close them.

Builders Square lost irs Kendall store and Scotty's its Homestead, Fl., unit, although it stayed open, selling materials out of a 32,000 sq. ft. tent in the parking lot.

Many independents also suffered serious daruge, and Florida Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association organized a caravan of 24 truckloads of donated supplies from retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers around tle counry.

Other companies made personal donations to the the relief effort. Georgia-Pacific made cash donations plus 20 trailer loads of sfuctural panels, lumber and roofing felt to damaged areas, including two tractor trailer trucks of supplies to repair the homes of Dade County, Fl., fire and rescue workers. Employees also organized canned food drives.

Weyerhaeuser made casb donations plus an eight truckload convoy of building materials. Hill-Behan Lumber Co., Harahan, La., donated five truckloads of sbingles, insulation, wallboard and framing lumber worth about $20,000 to local victims. Other major contributors included Boise Cascade, Champion International, Hunt Plywood Co., lnuisianaPacific. Riverwood International, Union Camp Corp., Willamette Industries and Cox Wmd Preserving.

The industry quickly moved into the damaged sit€s to assess the performance of lumber products and wmdframed struc0res under recmd winds, driving rain and stormy seas. Officials of the Southern Forest Products Association, Western Wood Products Association, American Plywood Association and National Association of Home Builders charted damage and offered advice for rebuilding.

The silver lining might be an economic boost to the recession-battered states. In 1989, Hurricane Hugo led to the injection of $300 to $400 million in new dollars for construction in South Carolina. Hurricane Andrew hit even harder.

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