Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida late in the evening, Thursday, Sept. 26. The storm cut a swath of destruction north across Georgia and into western South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and eastern Tennessee, causing flash flooding, landslides and snapping power lines and trees. Over 200 people are reported dead, with hundreds still missing and unaccounted for as of Friday, Oct. 4. Homes, businesses, roads, bridges, water lines and other infrastructure have been severely damaged and destroyed.
A state of emergency has been declared in these states, and President Biden deployed troops from the 82 Airborne Division to assist in relief and recovery work. National Guard units from 15 states are also at work, along with countless first responders, law enforcement and medical personnel, pilots, equipment operators, linemen, volunteers, neighbors and family members. While it may pale in comparison with the loss of human life, the impact to agricultural producers across the region is extreme. The extent of the impact will not be completely realized for some time. [READ MORE]