ATLANTA, Aug. 29 -- As Hurricane Katrina approached and struck Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, demand for structural panels such as plywood remained high. Georgia-Pacific Corp. works with national home-improvement retailers to meet increased demand both before and after hurricanes. During hurricane events, Georgia-Pacific holds structural panel prices at pre-storm levels in declared disaster areas where supply has been adversely impacted until there is adequate product supply in the affected areas. This is in keeping with the company's long-standing natural disaster policy. Before the storm, Georgia-Pacific shipped sheathing-grade plywood - the material most often used to board up windows and doors - into the projected storm path. The company will also work to provide post-storm repair needs. "We want everyone to be aware that Georgia-Pacific is working hard to meet demand caused by the storm and that we hold plywood prices at pre-storm levels in parishes and counties when they are declared disaster areas," said Dave Paterson, executive vice president, building products of Georgia-Pacific. The company is currently operating all plywood facilities outside the path of the storm at full capacity. Georgia-Pacific wood- and paper-producing facilities in affected states have been secured.