Hurricane Helene relief offered by USDA

The USDA is providing additional financial assistance to producers affected by Hurricane Helene., offering over $233 million in indemnity payments through the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI) and Tropical Storm (TS) Option endorsements.

The announcement, made by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, is part of an effort to support the recovery of farmers across the southeast who sustained significant damage before the fall harvest.

“Several states across the southeast experienced devastating damages from Hurricane Helene,” Vilsack said.

Farmers in Georgia, will receive $207.7 million in indemnities. Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia will also receive payments ranging from $61,000 to $12.8 million.

 

 

These payments are part of a broader USDA response to multiple hurricanes in 2024. The department has already paid $58 million for Hurricane Beryl, $214 million for Hurricane Debby and $128 million for Hurricane Francine. In total, more than $630 million has been disbursed under HIP-WI and TS this year.

In addition to financial assistance, USDA has deployed 215 responders to assist with recovery operations, including tree and debris removal in affected areas. USDA teams are also supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in its broader recovery efforts.

Farmers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia who hold HIP-WI or TS policies will automatically receive indemnity payments within the coming weeks. Producers do not need to file claims for HIP-WI payments, but additional claims for crop insurance may still be processed.

The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) has authorized emergency procedures to streamline the claims process, reducing paperwork and expediting indemnity payments for farmers affected by both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Debby. These measures aim to ease the burden on both insurance companies and farmers.

The USDA continues to explore additional ways to support farmers, foresters and rural communities affected by hurricanes. A full list of available disaster assistance programs can be found on the USDA’s Hurricane webpage at farmers.gov.