Storm surges, wind damage, and inland flooding caused by Hurricane Helene have wreaked catastrophic damage on farms, ranches, businesses, and homes in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee.
Support is available for farmers, ranchers, and businesses affected by severe storms such as Helene, wildfires, and other natural disasters. Here is a link to federal resources for those impacted by Hurricane Helene: https://www.usa.gov/hurricane-helene
Many states also offer disaster assistance; check the website of your state department of agriculture for more information.
Here are links to specific disaster relief programs:
- USDA’s Farm Service Agency offers many types of support. Visit the Farm Service Agency website for details on each of these programs:
- livestock forage disaster
- livestock indemnity
- emergency assistance for livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish
- emergency livestock relief
- emergency loans
- disaster set-aside
- emergency conservation
- emergency forest restoration
- noninsured disaster assistance
- tree assistance
- USDA’s Disaster Resource Center offers resources on preparing for and recovering from disasters. Visit gov to access USDA’s Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool that will help identify programs for which you are eligible.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration offers disaster assistance including the following:
- home disaster loans
- business disaster loans
- economic injury disaster loans
- CCOF offers financial assistance to producers facing emergency hardship. Visit CCOF’s Certification Financial Assistance webpage for more information.
- Though it’s not a disaster assistance program, organic certification cost share is also open for applications in all U.S. states. Cost share will refund 75 percent of your certification fees up to a maximum of $750 per certified scope. Find more information on cost share on our website.
If you have a specific need, you are welcome to contact CCOF at memberservices@ccof.org.
To assist people impacted by Hurricane Helene, consider making a donation to
- Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture: has been organizing farm cleanups and distributing resources https://www.brwia.org/
- Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP)’s farmer fund https://asapconnections.org/donate/ (include a note that you’d like your donation to go to Hurricane Helene recovery efforts)
- TRACTOR – located in one of the hardest hit counties https://tractorfoodandfarms.com
- RAFI’s Hurricane Helene Farmer Relief Fund provides on-the-ground assistance to farmers.
- Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA) is aggregating resources for impacted farms as well as opportunities to volunteer and donate funds and supplies.