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Hurricane Helene knocked down timber across hundreds of thousands of acres; state foresters seek federal grants, timber‑block payments and heavy equipment
Summary
Russell Hubright, forest management chief for the South Carolina Forestry Commission, told the committee aerial and ground surveys revised initial estimates upward and show roughly $83 million in timber damage across an estimated 234,000 acres; combined urban wood‑waste disposal raises the broader damage estimate.
State forestry and natural‑resources officials told the committee that Hurricane Helene caused widespread tree damage across the state, that salvage operations are under way in salvageable areas, and that agencies have requested federal assistance and sought a timber block grant for private landowners.
"The figure came back at $83,000,000 worth of timber damage," Russell Hubright, forest management chief for the South Carolina Forestry Commission, said after the agency’s aerial and ground surveys. He said the commission's work identified roughly 234,000 acres with some level of damage across 18 counties and that initial damage estimates were revised upward as more survey points were added.
Nut graf: Agency officials told the committee the storm damaged forest stands and urban trees across a wide swath of the state, and…
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