10/25/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/25/2024 14:14
Contact: USDA Press
Email:[email protected]
ASHEVILLE, NC, October 25, 2024 - U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today visited Asheville, North Carolina, to hear firsthand from local, state and Tribal officials, emergency managers, food bank staff and volunteers, and impacted producers on the region's relief and recovery efforts and highlighted resources from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help producers, families, and communities in the Tarheel State recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene.
"We know that communities impacted by Hurricane Helene have a long road to recovery, and USDA is committed to supporting that recovery for as long as it takes," said Secretary Vilsack. "Along with our fellow federal agencies across the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA will continue using every resource at our disposal to help people in North Carolina get back on their feet."
USDA is working with states, tribes, local governments, and partners to provide swift support to communities, farmers, ranchers, private forest landowners, and small businesses in North Carolina, and all affected areas, and is looking at every avenue possible to accelerate assistance and find ways to get resources to the people that need them most.
Resources Available to Impacted Producers
USDA offers a suite of programs to help agricultural operations in North Carolina recover, and has allowed flexibilities to streamline and expedite the recovery process.
Producers can visit farmers.gov/hurricane for more information on programs and flexibilities or call the Farm Service Agency (FSA) Call Center at 877-508-8364. You can also stay up to date on available assistance by subscribing to receive free email and text message communications directly from your local USDA Service Center at farmers.gov/subscribe.
USDA also offers access to mental health resources, including the Southern Ag Exchange Network Farmer Support Hotline, which is available 24/7 at 888-381-7243. This hotline provides confidential support to those struggling mentally and emotionally.
For more information, you may view a full list of programs and flexibilities for producers, including:
Nutrition Assistance for Impacted Individuals and Families
USDA is working with states, local government officials, and partners to ensure that food and nutrition assistance reaches those in need as soon as possible. USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) issued flexibilities and waivers for its many nutrition programs across states affected by Hurricane Helene, including North Carolina, in order to help those in impacted communities get the food they need quickly. Families may receive additional assistance through:
Additionally, FNS has provided flexibilities for the WIC program and other child nutrition programs, including Summer-EBT and school meal programs, to allow those programs to best serve impacted communities. All FNS flexibilities in the state can be found at the North Carolina Disaster Nutrition Assistance webpage.
Rural Development Resources
USDA is providing immediate relief to existing Rural Development (RD) borrowers, including homeowners and businesses in impacted areas of North Carolina. Rural Development stands ready to help people whose communities have been devastated and offers essential support to rural residents, local government and business owners to aid their long-term recovery and rebuilding process. Individuals looking for assistance should contact their local Rural Development office to discuss available flexibilities.
Secretary Vilsack in Asheville
In Asheville, Secretary Vilsack visited the Asheville FEMA Emergency Operations Center and U.S. Forest Service Dispatch Center/USDA Asheville Service Center. He received briefings from local USDA and Forest Service staff, who have been working to support FEMA's national response. As part of these efforts, Forest Service personnel have cleared over 150 miles of road, and partially cleared over 80 miles of road, in multiple counties in western North Carolina, providing critical access for search and rescue crews and other responders.
Secretary Vilsack also traveled to Mills River, NC, to visit the MANNA FoodBank Distribution Center, which has been providing much needed food assistance and emergency food distributions for residents impacted by Hurricane Helene. Residents can learn more about MANNA's efforts, volunteer, donate and find food distribution locations at www.usda.gov.
At the Western North Carolina Farmers Market in Asheville, Secretary Vilsack met with local farmers and ranchers whose operations have incurred damages and losses due to Hurricane Helene. He heard firsthand how USDA can best support them as they recover and rebuild, and assured them that USDA is committed to supporting them as long as it takes. As part of this assistance, Secretary Vilsack announced last week initial indemnity payments to producers under hurricane and tropical storm crop insurance policies, totaling an estimated $4.1 million for North Carolina. As farmers submit more claims, the amount of assistance provided will continue to increase.
Visit USDA's Disaster Resource Center for more on how the Department is responding to Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America's food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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