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Hurricane Helene

What USDA is Doing

Visit the USDA Disaster Resource Center for information on how to prepare, recover and build long-term resilience during disasters and emergencies.

2024 Hurricane Season Press Releases

Overall USDA Response

  • Staff from USDA are deployed to the affected states supporting FEMA and other response and recovery efforts.
  • USDA staff are assisting the FEMA Geographic Information System (GIS) to obtain a flood and structural damage assessment for the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to validate impacts for the approval of nutrition assistance programs, waivers, and flexibilities.

Food Safety and Nutrition Assistance

  • FNS has already issued flexibilities and waivers at the request of the states of Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia and is ready to issue additional flexibilities upon request. More information on those recovery and assistance efforts can be found on the FNS Disaster Assistance webpage.
  • The Food Safety and Inspection Service continues sharing food safety information for those experiencing power outages or returning home after flooding. FSIS encourages anyone with question about meat, poultry, or egg products to call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline toll free at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854). The Hotline is open year-round Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET (English or Spanish). Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. Send email questions to MPHotline@usda.gov.

Assistance for Agricultural Producers

  • USDA offers a suite of programs to help your ag operation recover, and we’re also offering program flexibilities to streamline and expedite the recovery process.
    • Documenting and reporting losses:
      • Document damages and losses your operation has sustained as best you can, including gathering farm records, herd or poultry inventory, receipts, and pictures of damages or losses.
      • We recognize this is a stressful time, and some documentation may be lost, destroyed, or unattainable. Contact us, and we’ll work with you.
      • Report losses to USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). If you have crop insurance, contact your crop insurance agent.
    • Available programs and flexibilities:
      • FSA offers a number of disaster programs as well as low-interest emergency loans to help producers recover from production and physical losses. FSA is providing flexibilities for its programs, including extended signup opportunities and use of waivers and emergency procedures to expedite program delivery.
      • USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical and financial assistance to producers to help with immediate needs and long-term support to help recover from natural disasters and conserve water resources. The program can assist with restoring livestock infrastructure, emergency animal mortality disposal, and immediate soil erosion protection.
      • For producers with crop insurance, USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) has authorized crop insurance companies to provide flexibility on reporting requirements for those who are unable to report losses due to the disaster.
    • Visit farmers.gov/hurricane for more information on programs and flexibilities.
    • Producers can also call the FSA Call Center at 877-508-8364.
    • Stay up to date on available assistance when you subscribe to receive free email and text message communications directly from your local USDA Service Center. Subscribe and manage your subscription at farmers.gov/subscribe.

National Forests

  • National forests across the path of Hurricane Helene have been severely impacted. Many Forest Service offices remain closed, and forests may also be closed for visitors and recreation activities, depending on local conditions. Check with your local forest before visiting.

Long-term Recovery of Rural Communities

  • Rural Development's Disaster Assistance is crucial for rural communities affected by crises and disasters. It offers essential support to homeowners, businesses, and communities to aid in their recovery and rebuilding process. If you are facing immediate needs due to a disaster and live in a President-declared disaster area, we recommend first seeking assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
  • The resource guide provides information on programs and services offered by RD and other government agencies. It aims to support rural residents, businesses, and communities impacted by disasters by helping them with long-term recovery and planning efforts.
  • We Care Letters are generated for RD Home loan borrowers when a major disaster occurs in a state. We want you to know that USDA Rural Development is here to help you when a disaster happens and causes damage to your property or affects your income. Our aim is to make sure you are aware of the assistance we can provide during these difficult times.
  • NRCS offers help to communities through its Emergency Watershed Protection Program which provides assistance to landowners and project sponsors following a natural disaster. EWP is designed to help people and conserve natural resources by relieving imminent hazards to life and property caused by natural disaster.

Support Networks and Technical Assistance

  • USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is also rendering assistance through flexibilities in programs, leveraging support networks and technical assistance.
    • NIFA has extended the deadlines for pending grant Requests for Applications for institutions within the impacted area to ensure they have equitable opportunities to compete for grant funds in all programs.
    • NIFA supports the Cooperative Extension System nationwide and county extension agents in all impacted communities are helping producers assess crop, livestock and infrastructure damage and losses across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.
    • The national Extension Disaster Education Network, a NIFA supported program, is distributing much needed disaster recovery information from how to document damage and loss for insurance claims to assessing food and home safety issues after power outages.
    • Cooperative Extension is also elevating services and connections available through the NIFA-funded Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network to help farmers, families and communities access mental health resources.

 

What DHS and FEMA are Doing

Visit FEMA.gov for the latest information from DHS and FEMA, including response and recovery information. This resource is also available in Spanish.

 

What the U.S. Government is Doing

Visit USA.gov for government-wide information related to Hurricane Helene. This resource is also available in Spanish.