Legacy in the Wind
Hurricane Helene’s Toll on Georgia’s Family Forest Owners
Winter 2025
By John Casey
When Hurricane Helene barreled through Georgia, its winds tore through homes, roads and lives, leaving devastation in their wake. For some, the storm’s fury was a brief but unforgettable ordeal. For Georgia’s forest landowners, however, Helene’s legacy will leave a generational impact. With winds gusting past 100 mph, the hurricane uprooted centuries-old pine forests, shattered timber plantations, and dealt a catastrophic blow to livelihoods tethered to the land. Georgia, one of the most productive wood baskets in the world, is home to millions of acres of working forests. These forests are more than just trees; they are economic engines, carbon sinks, and family legacies passed down through generations. In the storm’s aftermath, communities rallied to clear roads, restore power and salvage what they could from the tangled and broken forests that had defined their landscape for decades. For the families who tend these lands, Helene wasn’t just any storm — it was a life-altering moment.
“I love working the land. You get to see your hard work and the rewards from that. But I tell you, a hurricane can take it all away from you pretty fast.” - Ben Gillis, Owner, Gillis Ag and Timber
Ben Gillis
A FAMILY’S LEGACY IMPACTED
For Ben Gillis, owner of Gillis Ag and Timber in Soperton, Georgia, forestry isn’t just a business— it’s a six-generation legacy. His family’s connection to the land dates back to the 1830s, when they first received land grants and began farming trees.
“We’ve been tree farmers since the 1800s,” said Gillis. “It’s been good to us, but with Helene, everything changed with forestry in Georgia.
”The hurricane, with its ferocious winds, devastated nearly 70% of his timberland.
“I was riding with my dad, and we were looking at the devastation,” said Gillis.“I told him, ‘Every tree, every plantation I’ve ever planted is gone.’ And he said, ‘I think that’s the same for me.’"
The storm didn’t just take their trees— it uprooted their family’s sense of stability. Generations of Gillises had relied on these forests, but now the future feels uncertain.
“I don’t know what the future looks like for us,” said Gillis. “I hope Helene left enough for us to rebuild and restructure, but I don’t know if we can do it on our own.
”Gillis also described the profound toll of losing his forests after years of hard work invested.
“Tree farming is like slow farming. You clear the land, plant the trees and wait decades to see the results. You get a lot of aesthetic and wildlife values out of forestry. We’re cleaning carbon and we’re cleaning our waters,” he said. “I love working the land. You get to see your hard work and the rewards from that. But I tell you, a hurricane can take it all away from you pretty fast.”
A FAMILY’S LEGACY IMPACTED
For Ben Gillis, owner of Gillis Ag and Timber in Soperton, Georgia, forestry isn’t just a business— it’s a six-generation legacy. His family’s connection to the land dates back to the 1830s, when they first received land grants and began farming trees.
“We’ve been tree farmers since the 1800s,” said Gillis. “It’s been good to us, but with Helene, everything changed with forestry in Georgia.
”The hurricane, with its ferocious winds, devastated nearly 70% of his timberland.
“I was riding with my dad, and we were looking at the devastation,” said Gillis.“I told him, ‘Every tree, every plantation I’ve ever planted is gone.’ And he said, ‘I think that’s the same for me.’"
The storm didn’t just take their trees— it uprooted their family’s sense of stability. Generations of Gillises had relied on these forests, but now the future feels uncertain.
“I don’t know what the future looks like for us,” said Gillis. “I hope Helene left enough for us to rebuild and restructure, but I don’t know if we can do it on our own.
”Gillis also described the profound toll of losing his forests after years of hard work invested.
“Tree farming is like slow farming. You clear the land, plant the trees and wait decades to see the results. You get a lot of aesthetic and wildlife values out of forestry. We’re cleaning carbon and we’re cleaning our waters,” he said. “I love working the land. You get to see your hard work and the rewards from that. But I tell you, a hurricane can take it all away from you pretty fast.”
“The trees will grow back. But this storm has changed everything —for the land, for the people, for the future.”— Russ Yeomans, Owner and Land Manager
Russ Yeomans
THE COST OF PICKING UP THE PIECES
Russ Yeomans manages a 2,300-acre tree farm in Swainsboro, Georgia, a property steeped in family tradition and local pride. Helene’s arrival tested that pride with unimaginable loss.“We woke up Friday morning and had to literally cut our way out of the drive-way,” said Yeomans. “We lost somewhere between 30 and 40% of our older loblolly pines, and about 15 to 20% of the younger longleaf stands. It’s going to take years to recover.”He described the aftermath as a logistical nightmare.
“Salvage operations are like playing pick-up sticks,” said Yeomans. “In a normal operation, a cutout machine cuts wood in bunches so that the skidder can drag it efficiently to the loader. In this operation, every tree’s in a different spot, laying on the ground. It’s going to slow production by 40 to 50%. Landowners are going to take a hit.” The storm’s impact has completely altered the landscape of Yeomans’ property, including key tracts that have served as case studies of his family’s dedicated forest management efforts.
“This has been our showplace 33 acres right here, just beautiful pristine loblolly. That’s going to look different. It’s going to always look different,” said Yeomans. Emanuel County, where Yeomans’ farm is located, relies heavily on forest products for its economy.“This isn’t just about us,” said Yeomans. “It’s about the whole community. Timber production is our backbone, and the storm hit us hard.” Despite the devastation, Yeomans and his family remain resilient. “The trees will grow back,” he said. “But this storm has changed everything— for the land, for the people, for the future.”
THE COST OF PICKING UP THE PIECES
Russ Yeomans manages a 2,300-acre tree farm in Swainsboro, Georgia, a property steeped in family tradition and local pride. Helene’s arrival tested that pride with unimaginable loss.“We woke up Friday morning and had to literally cut our way out of the drive-way,” said Yeomans. “We lost somewhere between 30 and 40% of our older loblolly pines, and about 15 to 20% of the younger longleaf stands. It’s going to take years to recover.”He described the aftermath as a logistical nightmare.
“Salvage operations are like playing pick-up sticks,” said Yeomans. “In a normal operation, a cutout machine cuts wood in bunches so that the skidder can drag it efficiently to the loader. In this operation, every tree’s in a different spot, laying on the ground. It’s going to slow production by 40 to 50%. Landowners are going to take a hit.” The storm’s impact has completely altered the landscape of Yeomans’ property, including key tracts that have served as case studies of his family’s dedicated forest management efforts.
“This has been our showplace 33 acres right here, just beautiful pristine loblolly. That’s going to look different. It’s going to always look different,” said Yeomans. Emanuel County, where Yeomans’ farm is located, relies heavily on forest products for its economy.“This isn’t just about us,” said Yeomans. “It’s about the whole community. Timber production is our backbone, and the storm hit us hard.” Despite the devastation, Yeomans and his family remain resilient. “The trees will grow back,” he said. “But this storm has changed everything— for the land, for the people, for the future.”
Tim Hartley
COMMUNITY AT THE HEART OF RECOVERY
For Tim Hartley of Hartley Farms in Wheeler County, Hurricane Helene was a profound reckoning with the fragility of a 60-year family legacy. His family farm —managed by Hartley, his father and his brothers — spans over 3,500 acres. It has grown from the original 200-acre tract purchased by his grandfather and has been carefully nurtured across three generations. But in a single night, that legacy faced unimaginable destruction.
“Every stand has damage,” Hartley said. “Some are a complete loss, completely flattened. The tract along Gator Creek, where we steward the land for wildlife — there’s nothing standing there anymore. That was a stand I never planned to cut. I just wanted to admire it. Now it’s all on the ground.”
Helene’s winds didn’t just strip the land of its timber; they stripped Hartley and his family of their plans for the future. With his brothers on the brink of retirement, Hartley had hoped to join them this year, with their plan being to leverage forest harvests for retirement income. Instead, they now face the arduous task of salvaging what remains, selling wood for a fraction of its pre-storm value.
"Those trees were our livelihood from here on out,” he said. “We’re not getting more than $2 a ton now, when we could’ve gotten 25. At 60 years old, it’s hard to see something you worked your whole life for fall away and get nothing for it, to imagine waiting another 15 to 20 years to maybe see some kind of return.
"Yet even amid the devastation, Hartley finds hope in the resilience of his community. Serving on the Georgia Forestry Commission, he joined neighbors to clear roads and assist recovery efforts. “Everybody worked together — we needed to, and we still are,” he said. “The community definitely stood up together.”
For Wheeler County, where he estimates 60 to 70% of the forests are in critical condition, the road to recovery feels daunting. With mills at capacity and federal aid uncertain, Hartley worries about what comes next. But he holds onto the bonds forged in adversity, draw-ing strength from the land and the people who share his journey.“The logging is still very slow, and we’re having to divide loads between mills. And we’re not getting nearly anything for it. If the federal government doesn’t help us, I don’t know how we’re going to plant it back and go again,” Hartley said. “But if there’s one thing I know, it’s that this community will keep fighting. We always do.”
ROOTS IN RESILIENCE
Hurricane Helene wasn’t the first storm to shake Georgia’s forests, but it left scars that will take generations to heal. For landowners like Gillis, Yeomans and Hartley, the storm wasn’t just a natural disaster — it was a test of their connection to the land and each other. Their stories remind us that forests are more than resources — they are living legacies, deeply entwined with the people and communities who care for them. As Georgia’s forestry community re-builds, it does so with the same resilience that defines the land itself. The trees will grow again, but the bonds forged in adversity will remain stronger than ever.■
John Casey is a strategic communications professional who supports clients through the art of storytelling. In his downtime, John can be found hunting and fishing on his family’s centennial farm in Northwest Georgia.
COMMUNITY AT THE HEART OF RECOVERY
For Tim Hartley of Hartley Farms in Wheeler County, Hurricane Helene was a profound reckoning with the fragility of a 60-year family legacy. His family farm —managed by Hartley, his father and his brothers — spans over 3,500 acres. It has grown from the original 200-acre tract purchased by his grandfather and has been carefully nurtured across three generations. But in a single night, that legacy faced unimaginable destruction.
“Every stand has damage,” Hartley said. “Some are a complete loss, completely flattened. The tract along Gator Creek, where we steward the land for wildlife — there’s nothing standing there anymore. That was a stand I never planned to cut. I just wanted to admire it. Now it’s all on the ground.”
Helene’s winds didn’t just strip the land of its timber; they stripped Hartley and his family of their plans for the future. With his brothers on the brink of retirement, Hartley had hoped to join them this year, with their plan being to leverage forest harvests for retirement income. Instead, they now face the arduous task of salvaging what remains, selling wood for a fraction of its pre-storm value.
"Those trees were our livelihood from here on out,” he said. “We’re not getting more than $2 a ton now, when we could’ve gotten 25. At 60 years old, it’s hard to see something you worked your whole life for fall away and get nothing for it, to imagine waiting another 15 to 20 years to maybe see some kind of return.
"Yet even amid the devastation, Hartley finds hope in the resilience of his community. Serving on the Georgia Forestry Commission, he joined neighbors to clear roads and assist recovery efforts. “Everybody worked together — we needed to, and we still are,” he said. “The community definitely stood up together.”
For Wheeler County, where he estimates 60 to 70% of the forests are in critical condition, the road to recovery feels daunting. With mills at capacity and federal aid uncertain, Hartley worries about what comes next. But he holds onto the bonds forged in adversity, draw-ing strength from the land and the people who share his journey.“The logging is still very slow, and we’re having to divide loads between mills. And we’re not getting nearly anything for it. If the federal government doesn’t help us, I don’t know how we’re going to plant it back and go again,” Hartley said. “But if there’s one thing I know, it’s that this community will keep fighting. We always do.”
ROOTS IN RESILIENCE
Hurricane Helene wasn’t the first storm to shake Georgia’s forests, but it left scars that will take generations to heal. For landowners like Gillis, Yeomans and Hartley, the storm wasn’t just a natural disaster — it was a test of their connection to the land and each other. Their stories remind us that forests are more than resources — they are living legacies, deeply entwined with the people and communities who care for them. As Georgia’s forestry community re-builds, it does so with the same resilience that defines the land itself. The trees will grow again, but the bonds forged in adversity will remain stronger than ever.■
John Casey is a strategic communications professional who supports clients through the art of storytelling. In his downtime, John can be found hunting and fishing on his family’s centennial farm in Northwest Georgia.
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Georgia Forestry Magazine is published by HL Strategy, an integrated marketing and communications firm focused on our nation's biggest challenges and opportunities. Learn more at hlstrategy.com
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