Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) assistance to support producers affected by Hurricane Helene. The USDA has identified counties eligible for payments under the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI) endorsement. Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) now have 30 days to issue payments, though they often process them more quickly.
The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) first introduced HIP-WI in the 2020 hurricane season, later expanding it to include a Tropical Storm Option (TS). For losses from Hurricane Helene, producers with HIP-WI and TS endorsements will receive over $233 million in indemnities, aiding recovery for farmers and rural communities.
Currently, Hurricane Helene estimated indemnities for both HIP-WI and TS by state include:
- Alabama: $5.0 million
- Florida: $12.8 million
- Georgia: $207.7 million
- North Carolina: $4.1 million
- South Carolina: $4.1 million
- Virginia: $61,000
The USDA has issued over $630 million in payments under the HIP-WI and TS programs in 2024, including funds for Hurricanes Beryl, Debby, and Francine. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Torres Small recently visited South Carolina and Georgia to review recovery efforts, meet with local farmers, and assist with emergency food distribution. The USDA is working to expedite assistance through contingency plans and program flexibilities, with a full list of FSA disaster assistance available on farmers.gov. Currently, 215 USDA responders are deployed in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia, aiding in debris removal and supporting FEMA’s response efforts.
