TREUTLEN COUNTY, Ga. — Hurricane Helene has left a path of destruction through Georgia's forests, causing an estimated $1.28 billion in damages to the state's timber industry, officials reported Friday.
The Georgia Forestry Commission says the storm impacted 8.9 million acres of forest land, making it the largest natural disaster for the state's forestry industry on record.
“This is certainly our largest natural disaster for the forest industry to the state,” Johnny Sabo, Director of the Georgia Forestry Commission, said. “It's larger than [Hurricane] Michael, and Michael was our largest at that point.”
The damage stretches from Valdosta to Augusta, with pockets of severe destruction scattered throughout the affected area. Officials warn that the impact could last for decades, affecting not only the timber industry but also local economies.
“It really has a drastic effect in these rural communities, but as far as a greater statewide economy, it affects that as well,” Sabo said. “Everything from energy to housing costs could go up.”
Landowners are now in a race against time to salvage what they can. According to Sabo, many of the damaged trees have only about six weeks before the wood becomes unusable as the fiber starts breaking down and decaying.
For multi-generational landowners like Ben Gillis, whose family has owned timberland in Treutlen County since 1838, the devastation is both financial and emotional.
"One day you've got a timberland base and an asset base that you feel like will provide for your family in the future, and you got that sense of security," Gillis said. "And then it’s all gone. It's overwhelming. It really is."
Gillis, like many others, is concerned about the long-term implications. The cost to replant and restore the damaged forests is expected to be enormous, potentially outweighing the future value of the timber.
Landowners like Gillis are now calling for federal assistance to help landowners recover and replant. They emphasize the critical role Georgia's forests play in the state and national economy.
‘If we wanna continue that tradition and that sustainability, we're gonna have to have federal resources to do it. The private sector can't, they can't afford to do this," Gillis said. “We need assistance, we really do.”
The Georgia Forestry Commission is working with state and federal agencies to explore potential relief programs. They advise affected landowners to document all damage thoroughly and consult with local foresters for guidance on salvage operations.
As clean-up efforts begin, officials warn that the full extent of the damage may not be known for months. They urge policymakers to recognize the long-term impact of this disaster on Georgia's forestry industry and ask for aid.