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Forest Service invokes emergency authority to expedite Helene repairs

By Katie Myers, Published: November 17, 2024

The U.S. Forest Service will use its emergency action authority to address the problems caused by Hurricane Helene, many of which threaten both wildlife and humans, the agency announced.

In North Carolina, this may include bypassing some procurement or resource-related processes normally required, in an effort to rebuild infrastructure more quickly and accomplish clean-up faster, including timber sales of downed trees.

The Forest Service, in a statement last week, noted the severity of Helene’s impact on public lands and forests in Western North Carolina and other areas of the South. Helene damaged 187,000 acres in the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests and 900 miles of road while also sweeping away ecologically important species like hellbenders and trout. In Virginia, the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests were both temporarily closed. Some portions of all closed national forests reopened over the course of October, but others remain shuttered to visitors.

Hillsides full of trees were blown down, leaving dangerous obstacles and fuel for fires.  Debris and downed trees washed into streams, causing logjams that could potentially make future flooding even worse. Electrical equipment, internet access, water lines, and other critical infrastructure also needs to be restored quickly.  Where there were mass blowdowns because of high winds and tornadoes, the Forest Service will salvage timber to sell, a process which has a limited window due to the likelihood of wood becoming rotten or damaged.

“This emergency authority allows us to address the widespread damage caused by the recent hurricanes,” said Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. “This means helping to protect the surrounding communities by addressing hazards to public health and safety, critical infrastructure, and to mitigate hazards to natural resources like streams flooded with wood debris or sediments, removing downed vegetation and other debris that may be fire hazards.”

The additional response authority, first used after a Florida wildfire in 2023, allows the Forest Service to take quicker action to address emergencies. That will mean speeding up contracts, grants and permitting required by the Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act and the Clean Water Act.

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This coverage is made possible through a partnership between BPR and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization. The Lightning is part of a cooperative effort by news media to cover the effects of Hurricane Helene.