Hurricane Resources for Farmers

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 Carolina and South Carolina prepare for and recover from storm damage.

**Hurricane Helene**
The Governor of North Carolina has declared a State of Emergeny and has directed the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Transportation to suspend weighing vehicles used to transport livestock, poultry, or crops ready to be harvested and feed for livestock and poultry in the emergency area. The order also waives the maximum hours of service allowed for drivers.

In addition to the waiving of motor vehicle regulations, the department is temporarily suspending health certificate requirements on livestock traveling through the state from areas in Helene’s path.

We encourage farmers to print out a copy of the Executive Order to keep in their trucks to be able to show law enforcement officials.

• Clean-Up
  • Control Damage in Pesticide Storage Facilities on the Farm (NC Cooperative Extension)
    • NC: Disposal Assistance for Pesticides and Fertilizer (NCDA)
  • 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 Recovery Resources for Farmers (RAFI-USA)
• Food Safety
  • Factsheet: Food Safety for Flooded Farms (PSA)
  • 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: [email protected]
      • Phone: 919-542-2402
    • Contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline:
      • Email: [email protected]
      • Phone: 1-888-674-6854 (Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. ET) – English or Spanish)
      • Live chat: Ask USDA.
  • Owners of meat and poultry-producing businesses who have questions or concerns may contact the FSIS Small Plant Help Desk:
    • Email: [email protected]
    • Phone at 1-877-FSIS-HELP (1-877-374-7435)
• Hurricane Recovery on Your Operation (USDA)