Hurricane Helene caused significant damage to forest and timberland through high winds and especially flooding in many areas of Western North Carolina. Recovering from storm of this magnitude can be a long, difficult and stressful process.

Knowing what to consider, how to prioritize and where to go for guidance can help reduce stress and make it more manageable to respond to damaged timber on your property. Following is a list of resources available to help with decision-making for storm damage recovery to help landowners get a productive forest growing again.

Who Can Help?

The first place to start after the storm is to contact a professional forester, such as a consulting forester or the N.C. Forest Service County Ranger. They can provide advice regarding storm-damaged timber, help assess the damage to your timber, assist in salvaging timber, and provide guidance on current and future management of your property.

Evaluating Storm-Damage Timber

It is important to assess the damage following a storm. Storm-damaged timber can often still be harvested and utilized following a storm, but to minimize the loss, assessment of the timber should be carried out as soon as possible.

Prior to salvaging any storm-damage timber, document the event and the damage incurred. Save a copy of a local newspaper and take photos of the storm-damage timber. Also, make sure when inspecting the timber, be aware of the potential danger of lodged trees and broken limbs, as well as washed out roads and culverts. NC State Extension Forestry strongly recommends the use of a professional forester during this process.

• Decision Making Guidelines for Storm-Damaged Trees (NC State Extension Forestry)
• List of Consulting Foresters (N.C. Forest Service)
  • Statewide List of Consulting Foresters (PDF)

Timber Salvage

Selling salvaged timber following a storm is difficult due to the massive amount of damaged wood that enters the market and the difficult logging conditions, which drastically reduce loggers’ productivity. The large volume of wood and difficult logging conditions often result in depressed prices. Remember to seek advice from a professional when making decisions.

• Timber Sales: A Planning Guide for Landowners (NC State Extension Forestry)
• Timber Salvage Contract Suggestions (N.C. Forest Service)
• List of Consulting Foresters (N.C. Forest Service)

When establishing priorities for salvaging storm-damaged trees, the first and highest priority should be given to salvaging:

1. Trees that have the highest potential product value (sawtimber and veneer, in most cases)
2. Trees that are the easiest to cut (groups of trees blown or felled in one direction)
3. Trees that are the most perishable (sawtimber and veneer, in most cases). Sawtimber and veneer trees should be removed within 4-6 weeks, after which a blue-stain fungus will degrade the quality of these high-valued trees. Trees being sold for pulpwood should be removed within 8-12 months.

Recovery Assistance

Private forest landowners may be eligible for assistance through the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP), a program administered by the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). EFRP provides up to 75% of the cost to implement emergency restoration practices.

Potential forest restoration practices include:

• Debris removal, such as down or damaged trees, in order to establish a new stand or provide for natural regeneration
• Site preparation, planting materials and labor to replant forest stand
• Restoration of forestland roads, fire lanes, fuel breaks or erosion control structures
• Fencing, tree shelters and tree tubes to protect trees from wildlife damage
• Wildlife enhancement to provide cover openings and wildlife habitat

Visit the USDA’s Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) or download an EFRP fact sheet (PDF) to learn more.

Tax Considerations

There are tax considerations when timber is impacted by a natural disaster. The first thing one should do is document the damaged timber for tax purposes. Save a copy of a local newspaper and take photos of the storm-damage timber. This will be useful when filing one’s taxes.

Timber losses may fall under a casualty loss or involuntary conversion. Timber owners who are unable to salvage the timber can claim it as a casualty loss. If the damaged timber can be salvaged, it may be considered as an involuntary conversion. Tax rules governing how to handle storm-damage timber can be complex, and timberland owners are encouraged to seek assistance from a tax professional.

• National Timber Tax Website (USDA Forest Service)
• National Timber Tax Education Series (USDA Forest Service)

Forest Health

The health of a forest can be negatively impacted by a number of factors, including the weather. When forests are impacted by storms, such as Hurricane Helene, this puts additional stress on trees, creating conditions that are more favorable to secondary stressors like pest and pathogens.

These secondary stressors don’t often show up immediately, it may be months later before impacted trees show signs of being attacked by pests and pathogens. Eventually, however, trees can succumb to the stress caused by the storms and the pests and pathogens. Following the storm, it is important to monitor one’s trees for unusual symptoms that may indicate increased pest and pathogen activity. Learn more about forest health at:

• Forest Health (NC State Extension Forestry)
• Forest Health (N.C. Forest Service)

Wildfire Risk

Wildfire risk often increases following storms due to the increased debris from damaged or dead trees. First make sure debris around homes and outbuildings are removed, creating defensible space to minimize the risk of wildfires near buildings. Forest landowners should also take steps to minimize this risk to their timber by removing debris, salvaging timber and reestablishing firebreaks and firelines.

Learn more about reducing the risk of wildland fires on NC State Extension Forestry’s Prescribed Fire Resources page.