The Northwest Florida timber industry was devastated during Hurricane Michael in 2018, but the industry will see a little financial relief in the coming months

The Northwest Florida timber industry was devastated during Hurricane Michael in 2018, but the industry will see a little financial relief in the coming months.

The State of Florida and the U.S. Department of Agriculture last week signed an agreement to provide $380.7 million dollars to help Florida’s timber industry recover from the storm.

Timber is the leading industry in the Florida Panhandle, and suffered a $1.3 billion dollar economic hit from Hurricane Michael.

An estimated 550 million trees were damaged or destroyed and clearing downed timber can cost $2,000 per acre.

The federal money will allow Florida Forest Service personnel to work with timber producers to verify their timber loss and help landowners with documentation of loss.

The money will also help producers repair and replace irrigation infrastructure damaged by the storm.

Timber producers could receive funding as soon as this fall.   

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