Management

Assistance for SC forestland owners recovering from Helene-related impacts

The SC Department of Agriculture (SCDA) began taking applications for the South Carolina Disaster Relief Block Grant for Helene May 12. The block grant is designed to help offset some of the financial losses suffered by farmers and forest landowners due to Hurricane Helene. Losses eligible for assistance include infrastructure damage, market losses, future economic losses and timber losses. The SC Forestry Commission is overseeing the timber loss aspect of this grant.

Here are the basics regarding timber loss:

• Property must be located in an eligible county (see attached map).
• Property must have been owned by a private landowner on Sept. 27, 2024.
• Property must contain at least 10 contiguous acres of forestland on which at least 15% of the trees have significant damage (broken main stem, blown over or major crown damage).
• No restoration work is required — these funds are designed to help offset financial losses. Participation in other federal programs may impact eligibility for this grant.
• Loss valuations will be carried out by consulting/registered foresters and by SCFC foresters.

The South Carolina Disaster Relief Block Grant for Helene, funded by the USDA and administered by the SC Department of Agriculture (SCDA), seeks to cover Ag-related losses not covered by other USDA programs or crop insurance. Direct payments will be made to landowners in designated counties who experienced infrastructure, market, future economic or timber losses due to Hurricane Helene in September 2024.

The information on this page pertains to forest landowners who experienced significant timber loss because of the storm. For information about other commodities and updates about the application process, please visit SCDA. For details about this grant, see our Block Grant for Hurricane Helene flyer.

Timeline

The application period for the block grant is now OPEN – the SC Department of Agriculture is taking online applications through July 11, 2026. 

• Landowners apply during the 60-day sign-up period.
• SCDA and SCFC will determine eligibility for each application.
• Values of losses are determined (see Options A & B for timber below).
• After all valuations are completed, payment amounts are determined (these amounts are likely to be pro-rated if the amount of losses exceeds the funds available).

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Property must be located in an eligible county (see attached map).
• Property must have been owned by a private landowner on Sept. 27, 2024.
• Property must contain at least 10 contiguous acres of forestland on which at least 15% of the trees have significant damage (broken main stem, blown over or major crown damage).
• No restoration work is required — these funds are designed to help offset financial losses. Participation in other federal programs does not impact eligibility for this grant.
• Loss valuations will be carried out by consulting/registered foresters and by SCFC foresters.

Before starting the application process, please look up your parcels on the Hurricane Helene Damage Analysis Web Viewer.  This tool allows you to look at a map showing an estimate of the timber damage on your property. For tips on using the web viewer, please read/download this document.

Prepare to apply

Before you apply, we highly recommend that you read the SC Disaster Relief Block Grant Application Guide. This document provides step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Proof of ownership or control of land

• Deed, title, sale or 2024 property tax receipt

Documentation of losses

• Photos, if available
• Timber salvage information, if applicable

Financial and tax documentation

• Social Security number or Tax ID number(s)
• IRS Form 4684 (casualty loss) if available (not required)

Determine how your loss will be estimated

• Option A – a consulting/registered forester will determine the loss of timber value through a comprehensive valuation (cruise). This method is recommended for landowners who suffered loss of a significant amount of timber.  The SC Forestry Commission has a limited amount of grant funds to help pay consultants a set rate to help offset these costs, although they can charge landowners whatever additional amount they deem appropriate. Forestry Commission payments to consultants will range from $400 for less than 50 damaged acres to a maximum of $1,000 per application for over 400 acres. You can find a list of consulting foresters on this web page.

• Option B – SC Forestry Commission foresters will determine the loss of timber value based on broad attributes such as timber type, tree size category, stocking level, and damage category. This will result in a more conservative estimate than Option A, with values for damage in the Moderate category reduced to 25% of the pre-storm value and values for damage in the Severe/Catastrophic category reduced to 50% of the pre-storm value.

We recommend looking at your parcel(s) on the Hurricane Helene Damage Analysis Web Viewer to help determine which option you should select.

Information for consulting/registered foresters

To guide consulting/registered foresters who will be performing loss determinations for their clients, the following resources may be helpful:

• Step-by-step document
• Training videos
  • Overview
  • Forester training
  • Web Viewer training
• Pre- and post-Helene values table
• Damaged volume table
• Pre-merchantable table
• Sample invoice
• Payment schedule

Frequently asked questions

• Q:  If I participated in the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP), can I still apply for the block grant?
• A: Yes
• Q: How do I apply?
• A: Due to the verification documents needed, applications will be online only through the SC Department of Agriculture
• Q: How long is the application period?
  A: 60 days. The application deadline is July 11, 2026.
• Q: What happens if I miss the application deadline?
• A: We do not anticipate extensions or another round of funding.
• Q: What happens after I submit my application? Will I receive confirmation that my application was received?
• A: The application portal sends an automatic confirmation after submission. If you do not receive that confirmation, contact disaster@scda.sc.gov.
• Q: How long will it take for a determination of my application’s eligibilty?
• A: In most cases, this will take fewer than 45 days.
• Q: How is my timber loss calculated?
• A: We encourage forest landowners with significant losses to hire a consulting forester to perform a timber cruise to estimate your loss. The SC Forestry Commission will be providing partial compensation to consultants for this work. SC Forestry Commission foresters will determine losses for landowners with less damage and/or those unwilling to hire a consulting forester. These estimates are likely to be more conservative than those provided by consulting foresters.
• Q: Is there an appeal process if my application is denied?
• A: Yes, landowners may hire consulting foresters at their own expense to provide estimate(s) of loss, and SCFC will evaluate.
• Q: Will payments be made in one lump sum or in installments?
• A: Lump sum
• Q: Is there a minimum acreage required to qualify?
• A: 10 acres of contiguous forestland
• Q: Is there a maximum acreage limit?
• A: No
• Q: How much assistance could I receive?
• A: Assistance will depend on funding availability and applications received. Payments will be capped at 90% of your reported loss.
• Q: Do I have to do restoration work with the funds provided by this grant?
• A: No, these funds are designed to help offset financial losses from timber damage caused by Hurricane Helene.
• Q: If I received cost-share payments from USDA related to Hurricane Helene, will this affect my eligibility?
• A: No, this grant is not related to program such as the Emergency Forest Restoration Program, so cost-share payments do not affect your eligibility.
• Q: Are payments considered taxable income?
• A: Yes. You will receive an IRS form 1099 at the end of the year.
• Q: What counties are covered?
  • Abbeville County
  • Aiken County
  • Allendale County
  • Anderson County
  • Bamberg County
  • Barnwell County
  • Beaufort County
  • Berkeley County
  • Calhoun County
  • Catawba Indian Nation
  • Cherokee County
  • Chester County
  • Colleton County
  • Edgefield County
  • Fairfield County
  • Greenville County
  • Greenwood County
  • Hampton County
  • Jasper County
  • Kershaw County
  • Lancaster County
  • Laurens County
  • Lexington County
  • McCormick County
  • Newberry County
  • Oconee County
  • Orangeburg County
  • Pickens County
  • Richland County
  • Saluda County
  • Spartanburg County
  • Union County
  • Williamsburg County
  • York County
• Q: Will revenue from salvage sales affect my payment?
• A: Yes. Revenue from salvage sales will be deducted from any payment issued.

The SC Department of Agriculture (SCDA) began taking applications for the South Carolina Disaster Relief Block Grant for Helene today.  The block grant is designed to help offset some of the financial losses suffered by farmers and forest landowners due to Hurricane Helene.  Losses eligible for assistance include infrastructure damage, market losses, future economic losses and timber losses. The SC Forestry Commission is overseeing the timber loss aspect of this grant.