The aftermath of Hurricane Helene continues to challenge Georgia’s communities, particularly in the cleanup of the massive amounts of debris the storm left behind. While many areas are still recovering, the task of clearing fallen trees and woody waste remains a daunting effort for local governments.
As of mid-November, the Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA reported that roughly 34 million cubic yards of debris had been collected from residential and roadside areas. This is just 60% of what still needs to be cleared.
The cleanup process has been costly, with local governments relying on federal reimbursements to cover most of the expenses, though many are facing millions in initial costs.
In addition to the debris on public roads, private properties, timberlands, and farms are also dealing with substantial losses. The Georgia Forestry Commission has estimated that the state lost $1.28 billion in timber value.
This loss has significantly impacted local economies that rely on forestry, as the storm not only destroyed valuable timber but also caused fatalities and widespread damage to homes and infrastructure.
A significant amount of the debris is being hauled to landfills for disposal, though some local communities have been exploring alternative uses. In some areas, debris is being processed into mulch or wood chips, while others have resorted to burning the waste, with some communities implementing special measures to minimize smoke. Despite these efforts, many local officials are struggling to find long-term solutions for dealing with the storm’s aftermath.
Meanwhile, private landowners are grappling with the drastic drop in the price of pulpwood, which has fallen by about 90% due to the surge in available wood.
The market is flooded, and many smaller landowners are finding it difficult to get loggers to remove the fallen trees before their wood loses value. For many, their options are limited to letting the wood rot or burning it in controlled fires.
With time running out for commercial salvage and cleanup efforts, Georgia officials are seeking extensions on deadlines for debris removal and federal assistance. The state has also been in competition with neighboring states like North Carolina and Florida, which were also impacted by the storm, further complicating efforts to secure necessary resources for cleanup.
For residents affected by the storm, there are rapidly approaching deadlines for applying for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, with various counties having different application cutoff dates, from December 2 to December 6.
These deadlines are crucial for individuals needing financial support while they continue to recover from the hurricane’s devastating impact.