Disaster Relief Is Finally On The Way

Eight months after Hurricane Michael roared through the Florida Panhandle, Southwest Georgia, and Southeast Alabama, causing more than $2 billion in timberland damage, federal disaster aid is finally on the way.

The $19.1 billion in federal emergency aid will provide assistance to forest landowners, farmers, and others affected by hurricanes, wildfires, tornados and other natural disasters in 2018 and 2019.  The disaster relief legislation funds numerous federal programs, including $480 million for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program.  It also allocates $3 billion in grants to provide financial assistance for expenses related to losses of crops and block grants to states for compensation to producers, forest restoration, and poultry and livestock losses.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has promised to get the funds flowing quickly to the states.

TO SEE THE FULL ARTICLE IN THE SUMMER 2019 F&W FORESTRY REPORT, SUBSCRIBE NOW