Hurricane Helene: Timber Damage Assessment

Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, struck the southern U.S. on September 26-27, 2024, causing widespread damage from Florida to Tennessee. It made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region with 140-mph winds, triggering historic storm surges, catastrophic flooding, and numerous tornadoes.

Southern Appalachians saw rivers permanently altered, and Tennessee experienced severe impacts, including 17 fatalities, hospital evacuations, and major infrastructure damage like the collapse of Interstate 40.

The Division of Forestry’s damage assessment reports that Hurricane Helene caused over $59.9 million in timber losses, primarily hardwood species, with most damage occurring on private lands. A map on the final page shows the impact across 12 eastern TN counties.