Assistance available for timberland owners with damage from Century tornado
OLINO, Fla. – In addition to the devastating damage to homes, businesses and the landscape in the town of Century caused by the EF 3 tornado on February 15, a significant amount of timber was also damaged. An estimated 900 acres of forestland in Escambia County, Florida has been affected with as much as an additional 100 acres in Escambia County, Alabama.
The estimate is based on information from the National Weather Service, Florida Forest Service and Alabama Forestry Commission reconnaissance flights along the tornado’s path and limited ground truthing. Several factors will mean that the affected acreage will be somewhat less than the estimate.
The majority of affected forest land in Florida is commercial timberland. More than 450 acres are industrial timberland and approximately 250 acres are private landowners. The remaining acreage is noncommercial timber.
If your timberland was affected by the tornado, you may contact the Florida Forest Service or the Alabama Forestry Commission for recommendations and lists of vendors to help with salvage and recovery. In Florida, please call Cathy Hardin at (850) 587-5237. In Alabama, please call Thomas Davis at (251) 867-7798.
The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages 37 state forests on more than 1 million acres of public forest land while protecting 26 million acres of homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire.
