After Hurricane Helene: Massive USDA Grants, Shocking Damage Statistics and the Long Road to Recovery – What It Means for Farmers
Hurricane Helene: A Record‑Setting Storm Hurricane Helene developed in late September 2024 and rapidly intensified over the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall near Florida’s Big Bend on Oct. 10. With 140‑mph winds, it was the first Category‑4 hurricane to hit that region since record‑keeping began in 1851 farmpolicynews.illinois.edu. The storm maintained hurricane strength across Georgia and the Carolinas, dropping more than 30 inches of rain in some areas and causing catastrophic freshwater flooding. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Helene caused at least 176 direct deaths and 71 indirect deaths; most fatalities were caused by winds or freshwater flooding nhc.noaa.gov. Georgia recorded 37
