Thursday, August 31, 2017 11:45 am

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (From news reports) -- The difference a day can make.

On Aug. 29, Memphis-based International Paper Co. (IP) said its Texas facilities were operational despite Hurricane Harvey's destruction on that state's Gulf Coast. As of Wednesday, Aug. 30, though -- with some parts of the Houston area seeing more than 50 inches of rain -- IP began to feel Harvey's impact.

"We have not experienced significant damage at any of our mills, but we are facing operational issues, particularly at our Orange, Texas, mill," said Tom Ryan, director of corporate communications for IP. "We continue to face logistics challenges throughout the entire area. We will face some cost and operations pressure associated with the heavy rains."

IP has 2,700 employees in Texas with facilities in Orange, San Antonio, Edinburg, Grand Prairie, El Paso, Carrollton, Fort Worth, Amarillo, McAllen, Sealy, Waxahachie and Queen City.

A global producer of renewable fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper products, IP has about 55,000 employees across the company. In 2016, IP reported $21 billion in net sales.

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