USDA announces $233M in Hurricane Helene aid
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced over $233 million in indemnity payments for farmers impacted by Hurricane Helene through its Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI) program. The program aims to assist producers in recovery efforts after devastating losses caused by the storm across southeastern states.
Agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized the administration’s commitment to supporting farmers. “The Biden-Harris Administration and USDA will support farmers through the recovery process for the long haul,” Vilsack said.
Payments are set to be distributed within 30 days, with many arriving sooner. The largest payments are allocated to Georgia at $207.7 million, followed by Florida at $12.8 million, and Alabama at $5 million.
These payments are part of a broader $630 million in aid provided to farmers for damages from Hurricanes Beryl, Debby, Francine, and Helene this year.
The USDA has deployed 215 responders to assist in recovery efforts across the region, including work in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia.
Farmers with HIP-WI do not need to file claims to receive payments, which will be issued directly based on triggers from NOAA’s data.
To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.