Hurricane survivor

When Hurricane Ike hit Crystal Beach, a resort town on the Bolivar Peninsula, in September 2008, it wiped out 3,500 homes, more than half of the community. Bridge City, Texas, which Orange County Building Materials also serves, was under 8 ft. of water after Ike passed through. The insurance money and FEMA funds started trickling in last year, although, according to lumberyard VP Jerry Lightfoot: “We’re [all> still waiting for $550 million in federal funding.”

Orange County Building Materials, like other dealers in eastern Texas, has benefited from the post-storm economy. Roofing tiles, which Lightfoot sells, were in demand, along with bags of concrete and gypsum board. “There was a tremendous amount of reconstruction done,” Lightfoot said. “The complete Gulf Coast has been doing well.”

While business has slowed down in 2010, Lightfoot is expecting a normal year, barring any hurricanes.