Federal / State / Local / Private:
State
Disaster declaration required?:
Yes
Who may declare disaster?:
Federal
One time or recurring opportunity?:
One time
Responsible Organization:
North Carolina Forest Service
Contact info:
Local NC Forest Service county ranger offices
Application Criteria:
- Must be a private landowner with timberland
- Must own at least 10 contiguous acres of affected timber
- Timber must have sustained moderate to catastrophic damage from Hurricane Helene
- Must be located in one of 39 federally declared disaster counties
- Must submit a timber damage assessment report supporting losses
Partnership required?:
Yes
Type of Partnership:
Optional (consulting forester for damage assessment)
Rolling/ Fixed Deadline:
Fixed
Single or Multiple Deadlines?:
Single
Period of Performance :
Not specified (one-time compensation program)
Who's Eligible?:
- Private citizens
- Private organizations
Who is not eligible?:
Landowners with less than 10 contiguous acres, Properties outside declared disaster counties, & Timber losses not caused by Hurricane Helene
Additional detail on uses:
Provides partial financial compensation for timber losses resulting from Hurricane Helene. Funds may also support technical assistance for preparing required timber damage assessments.
Prohibited Uses:
- Non-disaster-related timber losses
- Losses already compensated by other USDA programs
- General forestry operations unrelated to storm damage
Award Minimum:
Not specified
Award Maximum:
Not specified
Total funding available:
Part of $221,000,000 USDA disaster block grant (multi-program allocation)
Payment Mechanism:
Performance-Based Payment
Award Selection Criteria:
- Verified level of timber damage (moderate to catastrophic)
- Acreage and extent of loss
- Documentation via timber damage assessment report
- Eligibility within declared disaster counties
Specific Compliance Requirements:
- Must submit formal timber damage assessment report
- Must document losses and ownership
- Subject to verification and audit
- Must avoid duplication of benefits with other USDA programs
Procurement:
Not applicable (direct landowner payment program)
Duplication of benefits rules:
Strict—cannot receive payment for losses covered by other USDA programs