Employees at the various Ipsco operations throughout the United States and Canada are rallying together to support their colleagues and friends whose families have been impacted by Hurricane Ivan. The storm passed through Mobile, Ala., early Thursday without significantly affecting Ipsco's Alabama steel mill, however it is expected that many families will not be so fortunate.

Employees are being invited to contribute money to a Mobile Relief Fund to be used to help with disaster relief for those most affected by the storm. Ipsco will match all employee contributions, dollar for dollar.

Ipsco has purchased needed supplies such as bottled water, non-perishable foods, toiletries, flashlights and other items, which are being shipped in two large semi-truckloads to Ipsco's Mobile Alabama steel mill Thursday afternoon to be used by families whose lives have been disrupted by Hurricane Ivan. The assembling of supplies is being coordinated by Ipsco's Montpelier (Iowa) Steelworks employees. Volunteers have spent hours collecting the supplies to be shipped. In addition, many local organizations have helped in the effort. For example, the local Associations of Retarded Citizens made 350 large candles, one for each Mobile employee to use in case the power has not yet been restored.

"The generosity of our employees throughout the Ipsco organization is spectacular," said Ipsco's President David Sutherland. "Ipsco and its employees have a long history of stepping up to the plate at times of need and this is another clear example of that."

Ipsco employs 350 individuals at its Mobile site.