Georgia forest landowners impacted by Hurricane Helene are getting welcome news about recovery assistance. Two special state relief programs were made available to applicants in disaster-designated counties and approvals are now being issued by the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC). Both programs address wildfire risk and public safety in the wake of the storm that left $1.28 billion in damages to Georgia’s timber resource.
“Hurricane Helene produced a tremendous amount of loss to private landowners, and this newly released aid of $25 million will make a real difference from the threat of wildfires,” said Georgia Forestry Commission Director Johnny Sabo. “We’re pleased to help carry out the legislature’s and State Financing and Investment Commission’s actions to support landowners who work every day on behalf of Georgia’s forest resources.”
The GFC has been allocated $3 million to restore and improve forest road access and recently installed firebreaks in disaster-designated counties. Criteria for the Firebreak and Forest Road program included countywide damages and their subsequent wildfire risk, severity of damage to individual properties, and proximity to nearby structures and communities. A custom ranking system was utilized to prioritize applications and services will be free of charge to approved landowners.
Another $22 million will be distributed through the Fuel Mitigation Program. The program intends to offset landowners’ costs for work that reduces wildfire risk in hurricane impacted areas. Work includes practices that improve access, reduce forest fuel loads, and reduce wildfire threat in the wildland urban interface. Performance checks will be conducted by GFC foresters to ensure debris cleanup has been completed, and reimbursement for services will be made on an 80-20 cost share basis (not to exceed a designated amount) by the Georgia Development Authority.
Landowners approved for these programs will be receiving notification from the GFC via email. Should further funding become available, deferred applicants will be automatically reviewed and notified.
For more information about Hurricane Helene’s impact on Georgia’s timber resource and services of the Georgia Forestry Commission, visit GaTrees.org.