Turning Tragedy into Purpose: Up! Up! Lifting’s Hurricane Helene Tree Salvage Initiative
When Hurricane Helene swept through Western North Carolina in September 2024, the storm left behind a trail of devastation that extended far beyond damaged homes and infrastructure. The forests that define our region’s natural beauty suffered catastrophic losses, with approximately 822,000 acres of forestland damaged across western North Carolina—representing about 27% of forestland in the impacted counties.
The numbers tell a sobering story: winds averaging 80-90 mph, with gusts reaching 106 mph on Mount Mitchell, toppled countless trees throughout the Asheville area and surrounding mountains. The US Forest Service reports that more than 190,000 acres of National Forest land experienced moderate-to-catastrophic damage, with total forest damage estimated at $214 million. Six counties—Avery, Buncombe, McDowell, Mitchell, Henderson, and Yancey—bore the brunt of the forest destruction.
A New Mission: Salvaging What Helene Left Behind
At Up! Up! Lifting, is proud to serve the Asheville and Western North Carolina community with our crane truck services. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, we saw an opportunity to do more than clear debris—we saw a chance to help our community recover valuable resources from this natural disaster.
We’re launching a tree salvage initiative to rescue valuable timber from properties affected by the storm. Many of the trees downed by Helene represent decades or even centuries of growth. Rather than letting this wood go to waste, we’re committed to ensuring these trees find new purpose.
How It Works
Our crane truck’s all-in-one loading and transport capabilities make it an ideal platform for retrieving storm-damaged timber. This integrated system allows us to safely lift, secure, and transport large trees in a single operation—eliminating the need for multiple pieces of equipment in many scenarios and streamlining the salvage process from property to processor.
We’re building a collaborative network of partners across the timber recovery chain:
Harvest Partners:
- Arborists who can assess and prepare trees for removal
- Landscapers experienced in storm damage cleanup
- Forestry management groups with expertise in timber evaluation
Processing Partners:
- Local mills ready to transform raw timber into usable lumber
- Woodworkers and craftsmen who can create custom pieces from salvaged wood
- Manufacturing companies that can utilize the material for various applications
- Agricultural input and soil amendment suppliers (CharGrow has partnered with us to produce biochar and help local farms enrich their soils)
Here’s what we offer property owners:
- Safe removal of downed or damaged trees using our specialized crane equipment or an approved partners method
- Efficient operation with loading and transport capabilities
- Direct delivery to our network of mills and processors
- Community partnership approach that prioritizes recovery and sustainability
The Value Beyond Cleanup
This initiative is about more than just clearing properties. The wood salvaged from Hurricane Helene can be milled into lumber for construction, crafted into furniture, used for specialty woodworking projects, or processed for other valuable purposes. By working with local mills and processors, we’re helping to:
- Recover economic value from the storm’s destruction
- Support local businesses in the timber and woodworking industries
- Reduce waste by repurposing fallen trees
- Preserve the legacy of our mountain forests in a meaningful way
Moving Forward Together
The recovery from Hurricane Helene will take years, but initiatives like this demonstrate the resilience and resourcefulness of our Western North Carolina community. At Up! Up! Lifting, we’re honored to play our part in this recovery effort.
Are you interested in joining our tree salvage network? We’re actively seeking partners including:
- Arborists and forestry professionals
- Landscaping companies
- Forestry management groups
- Mills and lumber processors
- Woodworkers and craftsmen
- Manufacturing companies
Property owners: If you have valuable trees that were damaged or downed by Hurricane Helene, we encourage you to reach out. Together, we can ensure that even in the face of devastating loss, nothing of value goes to waste.
For more information about our Hurricane Helene tree salvage initiative or to become a partner, contact Up! Up! Lifting today.
