Flooring Industry rallies to help Hurricane Katrian victims;<br>'This is much, much worse than anything we have ever seen.'
"This is much, much worse that anything we have ever seen and it is going to be a while before we even know how severe the damage is," said D. Christopher Davis president and CEO of the World Floor Covering Association. He estimated that at least 25 floor covering stores are in the areas of Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana hit hardest by the hurricane. "Their safety is our top concern," he said.
Davis noted that WFCA was working with suppliers to seek extended financial terms for retail members who are likely to experience cash flow difficulties. He added that WFCA will waive dues for members in the area, a move that was also enacted by the National Wood Flooring Association. While he noted that floor covering dealers have traditionally played a major role in post-hurricane reconstruction, the Katrina situation is complicated by the collapse of bridges and other infrastructure components.