Hurricane Rita Timber Damage Assessment
Texas Forest Service
30 September 2005
Hurricane Rita made landfall on 24 September 2005, around 2:30 am CDT on the
extreme southwest coast of Louisiana between Sabine Pass and Johnson’s Bayou. Rita
made her way up through East Texas into Northeast Texas, then through the Mississippi
Valley. Damage from the storm was evident throughout East and Southeast Texas, with
Orange, eastern Hardin, and southern Jasper and Newton counties sustaining the worst
damage.
On 26 September, Texas Forest Service began to implement a Timber Damage
Assessment Plan it had designed a week earlier in close cooperation with Southern
Research Station (SRS) of the USDA Forest Service.
Two Texas Forest Service foresters conducted an aerial survey of the impacted area on 26
– 27 September. The aerial survey refined the damage boundaries that were projected by
SRS on a potential damage map, which was produced on 25 September based on wind
and rainfall data from Hurricane Rita. Two days of flying and refining the estimated
boundaries led to the creation of the Timber Damage Assessment map, shown in Figure
1. This map shows four zones of severity:
•
•
•
•
Scattered Light – approximately 3 percent of forest stands damaged and affected
Light – approximately 15 percent damaged and affected
Moderate – approximately 50 percent damaged and affected
Heavy – approximately 60 percent damaged and affected
Damaged includes trees that are uprooted, snapped off, leaning more than 45 degrees, or
otherwise are likely to die within 12 months and thus will need to be salvaged. Affected
includes trees that are leaning less than 45 degrees, have lost only part of their crown,
have only a loss of foliage, or otherwise are not likely to die. However, future growth of
affected trees will likely be impaired, and these trees will likely be more susceptible to
insects and disease.
Eight Texas Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) field crews and two SRS
FIA crews collected ground-truthing data on 222 points in the impacted area on 28 – 29
September. Field crews collected the following data:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
forest type
percent of pine damaged
percent of hardwood damaged
percent of pine affected
percent of hardwood affected
stand age
stand density
The percentages of pine and hardwood damaged and affected as collected by the FIA
crews are shown in Table 1. On September 30, this data was applied to the 2003 Texas
FIA plot data in each damage zone to produce Tables 2 – 4.
Total volume of timber damaged and affected was estimated to be 967 million cubic feet
for a total stumpage value of $833 million. Total damaged and affected acres were
771,000 acres. For perspective, East Texas contains almost 16 billion cubic feet of
growing stock timber in 43 counties. Total damaged and affected volume by Hurricane
Rita was about 6 percent of the total East Texas growing stock.
Total timber volume damaged by Hurricane Rita was 533 million cubic feet worth
approximately $462 million. This timber damage occurred over 435,000 acres. Total
timber volume affected was 435 million cubic feet worth approximately $371 million.
This timber affected occurred over 335,000 acres.
Total poletimber damage was 1.5 million cords, while sawtimber damage was 2.1 billion
board feet. Total poletimber affected was 1.2 million cords, while sawtimber affected
was 1.7 billion board feet. For perspective, one billion board feet is enough to frame over
60,000 homes two-thousand square feet in size.
Sawtimber-size trees are at least 9.0 inches in diameter at breast height (4.5 feet above
the ground) for pine and at least 11.0 inches in diameter for hardwood. Poletimber-size
trees are at least 5.0 inches in diameter, but smaller than sawtimber size.
Texas Forest Service coordinated continuously with SRS to ensure methods and
procedures were based on the best science available to produce the timber damage
estimates. Questions about the Timber Damage Assessment should be directed to:
Texas Forest Service
Sustainable Forestry and Economic Development
301 Tarrow, Suite 364
College Station, TX 77840-7896
(979) 458-6630
bcarraway@tfs.tamu.edu
This report can also be downloaded from the Texas Forest Service web site at
http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/. Texas Forest Service is a Member of The Texas
A&M University System.
RUSK
SHELBY
CHEROKEE
ANDERSON
Hurricane Rita
Timber Damage Assessment
Forest Inventory & Analysis
NACOGDOCHES
HOUSTON
SAN AUGUSTINE
SABINE
ANGELINA
TRINITY
1
POLK
TYLER
WALKER
NEWTON
JASPER
2
SAN JACINTO
HARDIN
3
MONTGOMERY
4
LIBERTY
ORANGE
JEFFERSON
HARRIS
CHAMBERS
Damage Zones
1 Scattered Light
2 Light
3 Moderate
4 Heavy
FORT BEND
GALVESTON
BRAZORIA
0
25
Miles
50
Sustainable Forestry & Economic Development
Sep 28, 2005
Table 1. Hurricane Rita Timber Damage Zones with Damaged and Affected Percents by Forest Type in Texas
Zone
Forest Type
Damaged
Affected
Pine
Hardwood
All
Pine
Hardwood
All
I. Scattered Light Pine
Pine/Hardwood
Hardwood
All
1.0
0.8
0.6
1.5
5.0
3.2
0.8
0.7
4.2
1.6
0.9
0.6
3.3
0.9
0.4
1.5
5.7
2.1
0.7
1.0
5.3
1.4
II. Light
Pine
Pine/Hardwood
Hardwood
All
5.3
7.9
1.0
5.6
5.0
11.3
17.5
12.6
5.2
9.6
10.0
7.4
6.0
5.0
2.0
5.8
5.2
9.2
12.5
9.7
5.8
7.1
7.7
6.8
III. Moderate
Pine
Pine/Hardwood
Hardwood
All
14.3
22.3
5.0
15.7
22.9
40.9
51.3
44.9
15.9
31.6
31.4
26.4
8.3
14.1
5.0
9.7
12.1
44.1
52.5
45.8
9.1
29.1
32.1
22.8
IV. Heavy
Pine
Pine/Hardwood
Hardwood
All
23.5
56.7
50.0
39.9
10.0
60.0
51.0
49.6
22.3
58.3
50.7
43.6
5.5
10.8
7.5
8.1
10.0
21.7
30.0
25.1
5.9
16.3
23.6
14.6
Table 2. Hurricane Rita Timber Damaged and Affected by County in Texas
Damaged
County
Poletimber
(cord)
Angelina
Chambers
Hardin
Harris
Jasper
Jefferson
Liberty
Montgomery
Nacogdoches
Newton
Orange
Polk
Sabine
San Augustine
San Jacinto
Shelby
Tyler
2
All
(1,000 board (1,000 cubic
feet)
feet1)
Affected
Value
($1,000)
Area
(Acre)
Volume
3
Percent
Volume
Poletimber Sawtimber
(cord)
2
All
(1,000
(1,000 cubic
1
feet)
board feet )
Value
($,1000)
Area
(Acre)
Volume
Percent3
46,351
1,537
274,113
11,416
662,815
52,534
35,965
1,716
32,297
327,560
146,106
67,543
113,809
52,856
8,675
28,971
247,913
9,624
353
75,678
2,420
148,457
15,400
8,595
370
7,596
98,148
35,018
15,599
25,939
13,515
2,103
7,077
66,744
10,250
306
60,145
2,269
137,906
11,950
7,125
306
6,514
78,528
30,920
14,313
26,148
12,797
1,801
6,184
54,581
4,832
448
57,990
1,739
102,773
16,780
9,108
643
4,936
103,317
43,833
10,342
12,673
9,098
496
5,898
50,226
2.1
1.5
14.5
1.9
24.2
29.0
2.8
1.7
1.9
22.0
42.7
3.6
5.2
2.8
3.1
1.5
11.6
15,604
330
210,066
3,102
255,530
40,380
18,724
465
18,630
236,202
46,562
28,948
60,277
40,981
2,181
17,574
154,767
50,692
2,036
225,756
15,226
502,038
50,753
44,550
3,211
37,033
250,333
54,235
66,828
107,777
56,481
11,379
30,586
220,777
10,437
452
62,501
3,116
113,596
14,691
10,353
616
8,577
72,535
13,953
14,954
25,151
14,396
2,699
7,515
59,007
11,213
421
48,742
3,066
99,756
11,370
9,066
605
7,452
57,628
10,901
14,159
25,181
13,663
2,436
6,510
48,559
5,216
557
47,865
2,217
74,724
13,817
10,800
911
5,649
71,354
17,427
9,795
12,783
9,061
594
6,812
45,859
2.3
1.9
12.0
2.4
18.5
27.7
3.4
2.9
2.1
16.2
17.0
3.4
5.0
3.0
4.0
1.6
10.2
Total
1,461,233
2,112,177
¹International ¼-inch rule.
2
All volume refers to all growing stock volume.
532,634
462,043
435,131
9.5
1,150,323
1,729,692
434,549
370,728
335,440
7.8
3
14,585
322
257,365
2,680
335,337
44,294
17,244
389
17,065
347,257
98,038
31,538
57,292
38,563
1,663
16,064
181,538
Volume
Sawtimber
Volume percent applies to area as well except for timberland where there are no growing stock trees.
Table 3. Hurricane Rita Timber Damaged and Affected by Damage Zone and Major Species Group in Texas
Affected
Damaged
Zone
Major
Species
Group
Poletimber
(cord)
I. Scattered Light
II. Light
III. Moderate
IV. Heavy
All
Volume
Sawtimber
All2
(1,000
(1,000
board feet1) cubic feet)
Value
($1,000)
Area
(Acre)
Volume
Percent3
Poletimber
(cord)
Volume
Sawtimber
All2
(1,000
(1,000
board feet1) cubic feet)
Value
($1,000)
Area
(Acre)
Volume
Percent3
Pine
Hardwood
All
Pine
Hardwood
All
Pine
Hardwood
All
Pine
Hardwood
All
29,252
53,436
82,688
211,367
147,950
359,317
328,256
437,275
765,530
129,195
124,503
253,698
58,569
115,967
174,536
323,983
236,458
560,441
395,699
648,269
1,043,968
207,033
126,198
333,232
13,381
27,911
41,292
76,811
62,605
139,415
101,468
166,344
267,812
47,634
36,480
84,114
14,337
21,718
36,054
79,055
47,340
126,395
100,246
123,630
223,876
50,001
25,716
75,717
6,999
23,837
30,836
48,513
46,842
95,354
86,718
124,525
211,244
45,892
51,805
97,698
0.8
3.2
1.6
5.6
12.6
7.4
15.7
44.9
26.4
39.9
49.6
43.6
31,042
57,007
88,049
232,027
119,693
351,720
194,337
428,365
622,702
27,836
60,015
87,851
72,303
128,278
200,581
326,028
180,259
506,287
248,608
667,636
916,244
41,046
65,534
106,580
15,918
30,672
46,590
79,399
48,397
127,796
62,613
169,445
232,058
9,659
18,445
28,104
17,568
23,950
41,518
80,264
36,338
116,601
62,725
126,767
189,492
9,971
13,146
23,117
9,287
26,215
35,502
51,154
36,565
87,719
52,548
124,710
177,258
9,454
25,506
34,960
1.0
3.5
1.9
5.8
9.7
6.8
9.7
45.8
22.8
8.1
25.1
14.6
Pine
Hardwood
All
698,070
763,163
1,461,233
985,285
1,126,892
2,112,177
239,294
293,340
532,634
243,639
218,404
462,043
188,122
247,009
435,131
6.3
16.1
9.5
485,242
665,081
1,150,323
687,984
1,041,707
1,729,692
167,589
266,960
434,549
170,527
200,201
370,728
122,443
212,997
335,440
4.4
14.7
7.8
¹International ¼-inch rule.
2
All volume refers to all growing stock volume.
3
Volume percent applies to area as well except for timberland where there are no growing stock trees.
Table 4. Hurricane Rita Timber Damaged and Affected by Ownership Group and Forest Type in Texas
Affected
Damaged
Ownership
Group
Forest Type
Poletimber
(cord)
Volume
Sawtimber
All2
(1,000
(1,000
board feet1) cubic feet)
Value
($1,000)
Area
(Acre)
Volume
Percent3
Poletimber
(cord)
Volume
Sawtimber
All2
(1,000
(1,000
board feet1) cubic feet)
Value
($1,000)
Area
(Acre)
Volume
Percent3
Family/Individual Pine
Pine/Hardwood
Hardwood
All
102,790
152,712
161,164
416,666
154,265
350,193
288,728
793,187
37,275
79,112
71,930
188,317
37,436
76,659
55,188
169,283
26,625
66,619
71,243
164,487
3.8
15.1
13.9
9.3
76,218
110,926
145,659
332,803
126,139
219,657
273,684
619,480
29,627
51,750
67,450
148,827
30,289
46,629
52,659
129,577
20,211
42,815
66,370
129,396
3.0
9.8
13.0
7.3
Industry/TIMO
Pine
Pine/Hardwood
Hardwood
All
534,822
185,227
261,985
982,033
243,356
414,332
477,826
1,135,514
96,397
91,386
118,530
306,312
70,207
89,661
91,927
251,795
109,170
60,732
85,471
255,373
5.9
20.8
20.8
11.7
380,367
131,944
242,871
755,182
184,637
290,691
448,525
923,853
70,871
65,803
110,524
247,198
52,623
60,618
86,111
199,351
75,951
37,561
77,452
190,964
4.4
15.0
19.4
9.4
Public
Pine
Pine/Hardwood
Hardwood
All
37,065
7,670
17,798
62,533
126,573
44,146
12,758
183,476
25,551
8,507
3,947
38,005
29,315
8,959
2,690
40,965
9,497
2,345
3,429
15,271
7.4
15.7
44.9
26.4
37,637
6,200
18,500
62,338
138,967
31,914
15,478
186,359
27,760
6,317
4,447
38,524
32,148
6,455
3,196
41,800
9,813
1,825
3,441
15,079
6.8
9.7
45.8
22.8
All
Pine
Pine/Hardwood
Hardwood
All
674,677
345,609
440,946
1,461,233
524,194
808,671
779,312
2,112,177
159,223
179,005
194,407
532,634
136,958
175,279
149,805
462,043
145,292
129,696
160,143
435,131
4.7
16.6
16.9
9.5
494,222
249,071
407,030
1,150,323
449,742
542,262
737,687
1,729,692
128,258
123,870
182,421
434,549
115,060
113,702
141,966
370,728
105,975
82,201
147,263
335,440
3.8
11.5
15.8
7.8
¹International ¼-inch rule.
2
All volume refers to all growing stock volume.
3
Volume percent applies to area as well except for timberland where there are no growing stock trees.