Industry Launches Initiative to Rebuild Gulf Coast Stronger with Steel

Local contractors post their signs to help do their part in rebuilding the Gulf Coast.

At its January meeting, AISI's Board of Directors approved moving ahead with a special initiative to help rebuild the U.S. Gulf Coast region in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Twelve North American steel companies are participants in this effort. Collectively, they have committed $1.1 million to support the Gulf Coast Steel Initiative through a business plan put together by AISI. The Initiative's ultimate goal is to "rebuild stronger with steel" a region subject to severe storms.

The Gulf Coast Steel Initiative will implement long-term strategies to positively impact future construction practices in the region. The strategies are based on the expertise developed through the industry's investment in Market Development and will focus on the residential framing and roofing markets and recycling.

The Initiative's objectives are to:

1) Work with affected communities to support the use of state-of-the-art design and construction practices for hurricane-prone areas by providing educational programs for building inspectors,
2) Encourage the introduction of insurance and lending programs that promote the use of durable construction materials,
3) Partner with local contractors and technical schools to train workers on how to build homes using steel framing and roofing, and
4) Assist with clean-up efforts by facilitating steel product recycling throughout the region, which will provide business owners and consumers with information on where they can take their steel products to have them recycled.

To accomplish these objectives, the supporting companies of the Gulf Coast Steel Initiative are partnering with the Steel Framing Alliance, Metal Roofing Alliance and Steel Recycling Institute.

The supporting companies of the Gulf Coast Steel Initiative are:

• AK Steel Corporation
• California Steel Industries, Inc.
• Dofasco Inc.
• IMSA ACERO, S.A. de C.V.
• IPSCO Inc.
• Mittal Steel USA
• Nucor Corporation
• Shenango Incorporated
• Steel Dynamics, Inc.
• United States Steel Corporation
• USS-POSCO Industries
• Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation

Homebuilding: An estimated 350,000 homes were destroyed throughout the region, with another 500,000 damaged. Local builders and developers have identified the training of new workers as the greatest immediate need for them in the rebuilding process. To accommodate this need, the Steel Framing Alliance (SFA) will conduct training sessions on-site at locations along the Interstate-10 corridor in Louisiana and Mississippi. These training sessions will provide new homes for the community while equipping professional framers with new skills.

The SFA training program is aimed at building inspectors, insurance agents and brokers, framers and general contractors, and design professionals. The SFA will ensure that training for steel framing is integrated into existing carpenter training programs in community colleges and vocational schools throughout the Gulf Coast region. This approach helps meet the immediate needs of builders, but also fosters the development of a network of training options that can serve the broader market for the long-term.

The Steel Framing Alliance will also work with state officials to implement building codes that define state-of-the-art practices for hurricane-prone areas. AISI is recognized internationally for its work in the codes and standards area. In the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, AISI's codes and standards experts worked with officials to revise their building codes, which resulted in significantly less wind damage to South Florida homes during the 2005 hurricane season.

Residential Roofing: The Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA), a coalition of metal roofing manufacturers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, will train new workers on the benefits and techniques of installing steel roofing. Almost 750,000 roofs are in need of replacement in Louisiana, Mississippi and along the Florida coast.

The Metal Roofing Alliance plans to train 24 individuals and install steel roofing for 18 homes in a location in Mississippi to be determined. Training will be provided by the steel roof manufacturing members of the MRA. The opportunity to conduct additional projects will be assessed upon completion of the Mississippi initiative.

Steel Recycling: The Steel Recycling Institute has been working with Gulf Coast State Departments of Environmental Quality (DEQs) to determine the extent of damage to sites that recycle steel and to develop a course of action in establishing new sites. Through the Gulf Coast Steel Initiative, SRI will develop an updated recycling database to inform consumers and businesses on where to drop off their steel products for recycling, thus reducing the amount of material landfilled as these steel products become part of the recycling solution.

Through the work of the Gulf Coast Steel Initiative, our industry is leaving a footprint that will impact this region for years to come. For more information, contact Debbie Bennett.