Financial Relief Provided For Timber Losses

By Elishia Ballentine

Timber owners adversely affected by Hurricane Michael in 2018, in addition to the Lee County tornadoes of March 2019, can apply for financial relief. Applications open June 14.

Administered by the Alabama Forestry Commission, the Hurricane Michael Block Grant is made possible through an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency.

This program provides $10 million to qualifying non-industrial private forest landowners with a one-time payment. Eligible citizens must own timber in the following counties: Barbour, Bullock, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lee, Montgomery, Pike or Russell. Additional eligibility requirements must be met for compensation of hurricane or tornado-related crop loss.