1.1-Billion: Estimate of Hurricane Laura’s Impact to the Louisiana Timber Industry

A view of some of the devastation in the Vernon Parish from Hurricane Laura . Photos published by the U.S. Forest Service.

Hurricane Laura ripped through Louisiana, twisting trees, and destroying timber. It is estimated that the total economic loss to the Louisiana timber industry as a result of Hurricane Laura is $1.1 Billion. Of that total value, $767.6 Million was attributed to pine timber while $346.9 Million was attributable to hardwood timber. Vernon parish was estimated to have experienced the largest economic loss at $359.7 Million. Rapides, Beauregard, Grant, and Allen parishes all were estimated to have experienced losses greater than $100 Million.

Michael Blazier, LSU AgCenter forestry researcher, stated that early estimates indicate Laura led to timber losses are “comparable to what Louisiana lost in hurricanes Katrina and Rita combined,”. Hutchins also mentioned that he knows several timber owners who have also lost their homes in addition to their timber and that “It is hard to understand how devastating this is”.