The last thing you need to worry about when a hurricane, tropical storm, or tropical depression is coming is where to look for help.
While we’ll leave gathering weather news to you, below are resources we’ve compiled from state and federal agencies and organizations to help those with farms in North or South Carolina prepare for and recover from storm damage.
Resources for All Hurricanes
Preparation
- Purchasing a Back-Up Generator for the Farm (NC State Extension)
- Protecting Valuable Records (NC State Extension)
- Protecting Livestock During a Disaster (USDA)
- Hurricane Preparedness for Horticultural Growers & Beekeepers (NC State Extension)
- Disaster Preparedness for Farmers (RAFI-USA)
- Reducing Storm Damage to Your Greenhouses & High Tunnels (UMass Extension)
- Preparing for and Recovering from Hurricane Impacts (USDA SE Climate Hub)
- Hurricane Preparation and Recovery Commodity Guides (USDA)
After the Storm
- Clean-Up
- Control Damage in Pesticide Storage Facilities on the Farm (NC Cooperative Extension)
- Decision-Making Guidelines for Storm-Damaged Trees (NC Cooperative Extension)
- Chainsaw Safety Videos (NC Cooperative Extension)
- Animal Mortality Management (NCDA)
- Dealing With Snakes After a Storm (NC Cooperative Extension)
- Adaptation Resources for Agriculture: Responding to Climate Variability and Change in the Midwest and Northeast; see Adaptation Strategies 4-8, pp.25-30 (USDA)
There isn’t a specific resource for the Southeast, but chapter three is relevant for anyone experiencing extreme weather.
- Financial
- Disaster Assistance Programs Tool (USDA)
A five-question tool to help you learn which USDA disaster assistance programs might help you recover after a natural disaster. - Whole Farm Revenue Protection for Diversified Farms (NSAC)
- Disaster Assistance Programs Tool (USDA)
- Disaster Recovery Resources for Farmers (RAFI-USA)
- Food Safety
- Evaluating the Safety of Flood-Affected Food Crops for Human Consumption (FDA)
- General Food Safety in Hurricanes and Floods (Clemson)
- How to Handle Flooded Fields (CFSA)
- For questions about food safety,
- Contact CFSA’s local produce safety team.
- Email: info@carolinafarmstewards.org
- Phone: 919-542-2402
- Contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline:
- Email: MPHotline@usda.gov
- Phone: 1-888-674-6854 (Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. ET) – English or Spanish)
- Live chat: Ask USDA.
- Contact CFSA’s local produce safety team.
- Owners of meat and poultry-producing businesses who have questions or concerns may contact the FSIS Small Plant Help Desk:
- Email: infosource@fsis.usda.gov
- Phone at 1-877-FSIS-HELP (1-877-374-7435)
- Hurricane Recovery on Your Operation (USDA)
Resources to Stay Up-to-Date
We’ll do our best to keep this page updated, but we advise farmers keep an eye on the following resources to get the latest on hurricanes, tropical storms, and tropical depressions as it relates to their farm operations.
South Carolina:
- Hurricane Preparedness Recovery Guides (Clemson)
- Livestock, Poultry, & Equine Hurricane & Flooding News (Clemson)
- Emergency Preparedness & Post Hurricane Impact Resources (Clemson)
- Hurricane Prep & Recovery Guides for SC Producers (USDA)
North Carolina:
- NC Disaster Information Center (NC State Extension)
- Hurricane Prep & Recovery Guides for NC Producers (USDA)
Everyone:
- Disaster Resource Center (USDA)
We hope you, your family and friends, your homes, and your farms are safe.
Are we missing anything? If you have a helpful resource, please let us know.