This new short film from state foresters takes place in Calhoun County, Florida, where a disastrous hurricane robbed timber farmers of their livelihoods. “Forgotten Storm” includes first-hand accounts of Hurricane Michael and details the community’s long road to recovery. Source: Timberbiz
The National Association of State Foresters has released “Tree Stories,” a series of short films depicting the crucial connections between forests and people across the United States. The first installment, “Forgotten Storm (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SgeoE-Q36I),” profiles Calhoun County timber farmers and their courage to recover after catastrophe.
Every year, private forests in the US produce more than 90% of the nation’s wood and paper products. They support 2.4 million jobs (and US$98.7 billion in payroll), contribute to US$281 billion in timber sales, manufacturing, and shipping, and constitute 4.6% of the nation’s total manufacturing gross domestic product (GDP
In Florida’s Panhandle, where lumber reigns, this economic engine was all but swept away by Hurricane Michael.
Three years ago on October 10, Hurricane Michael destroyed 72 million tons of timber, that’s 2.5 million log trucks worth of wood, across 11 Florida Panhandle counties.
In Calhoun County, timber farmers were left to clean up, grade, and replant thousands of acres.
Watch the first of NASF’s “Tree Stories” series and learn how this tree-based community managed to weather the storm.
“Forgotten Storm” and forthcoming videos in the “Tree Stories” series will be available on the NASF’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDuBvUxNVL6CpBumvKBUSlw)
