Resources for Forest Landowners Impacted by Hurricane Helene
Restoring Our Working Forests
GFA has been engaged with state and federal lawmakers to advance legislation addressing the impact of Hurricane Helene on the forestry sector, focusing on creating incentives and relief programs that help stabilize the forest products market, protect land value, and ensure the sustainability of forestry operations in Georgia. See below for resources that have been approved and others that are still in the works.
RESOURCES FOR RECOVERY
→ Block Grants
→ Emergency Forest Restoration Program
→ Fuel Mitigation Funds
→ Harvest Tax Suspension
→ Reforestation Tax Credit
These initiatives offer a coordinated response to Hurricane Helene’s impact—providing both immediate relief and long-term support for Georgia’s forest landowners.
Block Grants
Overview: As a part of the December Appropriations package, Congress allocated $30.78 billion to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support recovery efforts tied to natural disasters occurring in 2023 and 2024, including recent economic losses.
Block Grants: A portion of these funds will be distributed to individual states and producers through USDA-administered block grants, similar to those provided after Hurricane Michael in 2018.
Why this is important: Block grants empower state agencies to tailor disaster relief to the specific conditions and needs of affected regions. In the forestry sector, where storm varies widely, these grants allow for flexible, targeted responses including infrastructure repair, reforestation, and direct landowner assistance.
Current Status: Funds have been allocated but are not yet available for application. GFA will share updates on how to access these resources as soon as applications become available.
Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP)
Overview: Administered by the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) provides cost-share funding to private landowners for restoring land damaged by natural disasters.
Eligibility: Non-industrial private forestland owners who have experienced damage due to Hurricane Helene.
Funding Support: Covers up to 75% of costs for debris removal, site preparation, tree planting, and other approved emergency forest restoration activities. Limited to $500,000 per person or legal entity per disaster.
Application Process: Landowners must complete the application through their local FSA office, providing documentation of damage and a recovery plan.
Deadline: June 1st, 2025
More Information: USDA EFRP Website
Back to Relief Efforts→
Fuel Mitigation Funds
Overview: The FMit Program reduces wildfire risk by funding hazardous fuel reduction on hurricane-damaged lands.
Eligibility: Private landowners in counties designated as disaster areas due to Hurricane Helene. Note: All available funding has already been allocated.
Funding Support: Grants cover debris removal, thinning, prescribed burning, and mulching to mitigate wildfire risks. Participants cannot receive duplicative funding for practices reimbursed under this program (i.e. EFRP). Reimbursements are based on 80% of the documented costs.
Application Process: Administered by the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC), interested landowners can apply online or through their local GFC office.
More Information: GFC FMit Program Website
Back to Relief Efforts→
Harvest Tax Suspension
Overview: HB 223 (passed via the 2025 legislative session) provides a temporary harvest tax exemption for Q4 of 2024 and all of 2025. Counties that suspend this tax will receive reimbursement grants based on pre-hurricane market values.
Eligibility: Landowners within FEMA-declared disaster areas impacted by Hurricane Helene. Counties must opt in to suspend the harvest tax to be eligible for reimbursement grants.
Application: Contact your county officials to ensure they are aware of this legislation. County participation is required for landowners to benefit.
This legislation is still awaiting signature by Governor Kemp, and GFA will notify you when applications are made available.
Back to Relief Efforts→
Reforestation Tax Credit
Overview: Establishes a $200 million refundable tax credit for clean-up and reforestation, covering up to $550 per acre. Tax credits will be based on the value of the landowner’s Timber Casualty loss.
- Refundable Credit: If your credit exceeds your tax liability, you’ll receive the difference as a refund payment.
- Timing: The credit is available after replanting is completed.
- Support for Landowners: A detailed guide will be provided to GFA members soon to help you and your CPA navigate the credit.
Eligibility: Land located in one of the 66 disaster-designated counties per Governor Kemp’s Executive order dated Oct 29th, 2024. All landowner types are eligible for this program.
Applications: Applications will be available from the Georgia Dept. Of Revenue (DOR) once the legislation is signed by Governor Kemp. GFA will provide a link when available.
Deadline: Applications are due by December 31, 2025.
See Why This Matters
In the weeks following the storm, the Georgia Forestry Association visited the most devastated areas of South Georgia, concurrently the state’s most productive forestlands. By sharing their stories, policymakers can begin to understand the challenges the tree farmers and their families are facing following Hurricane Helene’s devastation.
For More Information
Visit the GFA LIVE Hurricane Helene Blog for Resources and Information.
