Georgia pushes for federal aid nearly one year after Hurricane Helene

Desmond Milligan · August 14

ATLANTA (WJBF) – It’s been nearly a year since Hurricane Helene tore through Georgia, leaving behind catastrophic damage to farms across the state. Now, Georgia leaders are pushing for federal block grants to help farmers still reeling from the disaster.

State Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper says the storm caused $5.5 billion in damage, devastating farm families like his own.

“It impacted farm families in a way we’ve never seen before,” Harper said. “My own family farm was impacted. The eye of the storm went over my home.”

Georgia’s agriculture industry, which is valued at $91 billion, employs thousands and supports communities statewide. Of the state’s 40,000 farms, about 25,000 were damaged by Helene. To date, Georgia has distributed $300 million in state funds to help farmers recover lost income, crops, and property.

But state leaders say that’s not enough. Harper said they’re in the final stages of negotiations with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to secure more federal disaster funding.

“We are at the one-yard line,” Harper said. “Every dollar from this block grant will go directly to Georgia producers.”

The state is also creating new relief programs to fill gaps where traditional federal disaster aid doesn’t apply, ensuring farmers get support even if they fall outside standard USDA and FSA programs.

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