FEMA program recycles WNC's Helene trees into firewood, furniture, mulch and more

ASHEVILLE — A partnership between federal agencies and nonprofit and faith-based organizations is repurposing some of the remnants of Tropical Storm Helene's destruction for use by local residents.

As part of a project developed by FEMA's Interagency Recovery Coordination, thousands of trees damaged by Helene will be replanted under a national project, FEMA announced in a press release Nov. 13.

Coordination was established by the disaster relief organization's coordinator to meet the challenges presented by Helene and ensure interdisciplinary collaboration for disaster relief in North Carolina.

According to the release, more than 320,000 pounds had been removed as part of the project.

“This marks a transition from response to long-term recovery,” said Thomas J. McCool, North Carolina's regional disaster coordinator. “The new IRC partnership is tailored specifically for Western North Carolina and leverages the unique skills, expertise and tools of all the organizations involved.”

One of the phases of the project involves removing trash and fallen trees from the North Carolina Arboretum in South Asheville.

According to a previous USA Today Network report from The Citizen Times, the wind and rain caused by Helene felled more than 5,000 trees in the 434-acre Pisgah National Forest, forcing the Arboretum to temporarily close.

On October 28, following the hard work of Arboretum staff and the US Army Corps of Engineers, NC, the Arboretum was able to reopen the original entrance, parking lot and formal gardens to visitors, the Arboretum waived the $20 per vehicle parking fee. .

All Arboretum paths and outdoor areas beyond the Official Gardens remain closed to visitors, beginning Nov. 14.

The Arboretum is a state institution affiliated with the University of North Carolina System, and attracts more than 600,000 visitors annually. The Arboretum, which offers trails, gardens and an educational center, has a membership list of more than 21,000 households.

According to FEMA, the felled tree project is already sending logs to a staging area to be sorted based on potential use. This wood will then be distributed to residents and communities to obtain firewood, furniture material, mulch and more.

In an October 22 article for the USA Today Network, Drake Fowler, executive director of the North Carolina Arboretum, said cleanup efforts will use damaged and destroyed trees to help stock North Carolina's firewood system, or help by placing lumber along the road. a park with 10 kilometers of hiking trails.

“Most of the trees that fell were red oaks, and the best chips for trails are those hardwoods,” Fowler explained. “These are the chips that we often want, so many times we may have to buy them.”

Other uses for wood include furniture, heating and landscaping

In addition to FEMA, the US Army Corps of Engineers and the University of North Carolina System, the Interagency Recovery Coordination partnership for this project includes collaboration between the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management, Buncombe County, Team Rubicon, a non-governmental organization focused on in disaster. response, American Red Cross, Mennonite Disaster Services, US Department of Agriculture Rural Development and US Forest Service.

In the release, FEMA said multiple agencies determine the effective use of materials.

Teams of US Department of Agriculture forestry experts sort the wood based on intended purpose, including building furniture, home heating and landscaping. The American Red Cross and Mennonite Disaster Services provided wood-cutting equipment, manned by Team Rubicon volunteers trained to use chainsaws, log-splitters and other equipment.

Additionally, local churches will pick up separated firewood, dry it as needed and provide firewood to residents, the release said.

According to a FEMA release, Interagency Recovery Coordination partners have removed 65 truckloads of logs since Nov. 13. with wood for separation from the week of Nov. 11.

More: The NC Arboretum in Asheville contained significant tree damage from Helene; reopening plans

More: The NC Arboretum in Asheville is reopening but trails remain closed

More: The NC Arboretum in Asheville is reopening but trails remain closed

More: MountainTrue releases more post-Helene soil, water samples: How polluted is the French Broad?

The Winter Lights event is scheduled to run until Dec. 31

While all Arboretum trails and outdoor areas beyond the Official Gardens remain closed to visitors, the Arboretum's biggest fundraising effort, its annual Winter Lights, will move into its 11th year and is scheduled to run from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31.

“This year, we strive to make Winter Lights an event that will provide a sense of wonder, place, and perhaps a momentary return to normalcy – an opportunity to wander and wonder and escape into a night of joy and happiness,” it read. a public note on the Arboretum's website, adding that ticket sales for the event directly provide for staff salaries and the continued development of the grounds. “

Fowler said the Arboretum is working to create displays around some of the park's damaged trees by attaching lights to the fallen wood in an “artistic way,” noting the significant loss of older trees in the preserve. Event organizers are also discussing potential photo opportunities for guests that could include rally cries such as “WNC Strong,” according to Fowler.

Tickets for the Winter Lights Festival are priced per vehicle rather than per person and start at $40, according to the event's website.

“So please know that, by going to Winter Lights, you are supporting this important resource and those workers who make it beautiful,” the Arboretum said on its website. “We know that for many the idea of ​​buying a ticket can seem like a big question, but for those of you who know, we want you to know that this event is important to us as it is important to the thousands who have received it. attended Winter Lights 10 years ago.

Johnny Casey has covered Madison County for The Citizen Times and The News-Record & Sentinel for three years. Received first prize in journalism at the 2023 North Carolina Press Association awards. He can be reached at 828-210-6074 or jcasey@citizentimes.com.

This article first appeared in the Asheville Citizen Times: FEMA program restores downed Helene trees to WNC residents