While the total extent of damage may not be known for days or weeks, in response to the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, the Biden-Harris Administration is bolstering recovery efforts across the agricultural sector. Chief Agricultural Negotiator Doug McKalip reinforced this during an interview Monday morning with Southeast AgNet.
“I just wanted to take a second to, acknowledge, the hurricane recovery and response, that is happening across, many states in the U.S.,” he said. “President Biden has approved disaster declarations, for all the states involved, and we are working hard to get folks back on their feet and to fully recover from the situation.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to collaborate with federal partners to address immediate and long-term needs, particularly for rural and farming communities.
With crop damage, livestock losses, and infrastructure impacts, farmers in affected regions face significant recovery challenges. FEMA’s ongoing efforts focus on providing disaster relief funding, technical support, and facilitating collaboration between federal agencies and local agricultural businesses. In addition, USDA programs are being activated to assess and address the specific needs of agricultural producers, ensuring rapid distribution of financial and logistical aid.
Sabrina Halvorson
National Correspondent / AgNet Media, Inc.
Sabrina Halvorson is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, and public speaker who specializes in agriculture. She primarily reports on legislative issues and hosts The AgNet Weekly podcast. Sabrina is a native of California’s agriculture-rich Central Valley.