Info on damage to LA and MS forest from the Louisiana Forestry Assn

CosmoPack · September 02, 2005, 01:53:14 PM

I recieved this from the Forestry Resources Assn. and thought it would be of interest to the FF members. - Cosmopack

"Dear FRA Members:

We all are greatly concerned after watching the National media reports on the impact of hurricane Katrina on Louisiana and Mississippi and our heartfelt prayers are being given everyday for Katrina's victims. Below is an assessment and report on the situation from Buck Vandersteen Executive Director of The Louisiana Forestry Association. Buck and Bruce Alt, the Executive Director of the Mississippi Forestry Association, will be working together to let the Forest Industry Community know when and where our help will be needed for Katrina victims over the next few weeks.

I have also been in communication with Henson Moore and the AF&PA staff. We have agreed to keep each other informed and to move forward with coordinated and sustained forest industry help efforts when Buck and Bruce let us know when and where we can be of assistance.

We also have confirmed reports that in order to ease the shortage of fuel supplies the Federal EPA has approved the use of off-road diesel for on-road purposes through September 15th in two southern states. We are trying to determine whether this provision applies in other states also. We'll pass on more information as we receive it.

Sincerely Richard Lewis

Message from the Louisiana Forestry Association.
September 1, 2005
Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts Underway.

The top priority in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is search and rescue. Assessing the damage and impact on the forests and industry will take place after the evacuees are secure and the dead are recovered. This could take many more days. There will be a tremendous need for the expertise and generosity of the forest community in the weeks and months ahead.

The outpouring of offers to help is humbling. Today, the best advice is to Sit Tight and prepare to be called upon. It will be imperative for our support efforts to be coordinated so we make the greatest impact with the resources we have. Sitting tight right now may be the hardest thing to do after watching all the suffering on the television but it is the best advice.

In preparation for our relief efforts the following issues need to be addressed: Prepare for a surge in salvageable timber. Early reports from observers indicate forests completely leveled in southeast Louisiana and Mississippi.
Can harvest contracts for standing timber be delayed and preparations made for salvaged wood. Are trucks, railcars, and barges available? Knowing that prices will fall due to the surge in salvageable material, fair prices to landowners, loggers, and shippers are critical.

If your mill produces consumer products like paper towels, napkins, paper plates and bathroom tissue, have your supplies ready to go when called upon.

Logging equipment, bulldozers, excavators, etc. will be needed to push, pull, drag, or cut debris out of roads, bayous, and forests. There is a shortage of such equipment since local machinery has been damaged or made unusable. Portable gas and diesel fuel tanks will be needed for immediate deployment in forest communities.

Washington lawmakers, state officials, EPA, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Transportation, Department of Energy, etc. need to relax weight laws on highways, allow off-road fuel on highways, and permit greater use of wood fuels and alternative fuels in our mills. If fuel rationing is implemented, priority must be given to loggers and manufacturing operations that keep the economy rolling and producing products needed for rebuilding.

Distribution centers for forest products should be informed that fair prices for our products are always encouraged and that price gouging is unacceptable.

Making cash donations to the Red Cross, Salvation Army, churches and other organizations is always welcomed. We are investigating setting up a forest industry fund to direct donations to critically impacted forest related communities. This is not available at this time. In light of all the destruction and devastation, this will be the forest community's finest hour in restoring life and economy to our communities.

For further information, contact the Louisiana Forestry Association, 318 443 2558, lfa@laforestry.com C. A. "Buck" Vandersteen Executive Director Louisiana Forestry Association 318.443.2558 We're Minding the Forest For You!"