This week, Hurricane Milton, a powerful Category 3 storm, made news in Tampa, Florida. As it proceeded inland, it was downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane from a Category 5 storm with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph.
Those who were impacted by Hurricane Helene at the end of September this year will be able to empathize strongly, even though Tampa people are still getting over the experience.
Those who were impacted by Hurricane Helene last month are still eligible for aid, even if disaster relief efforts are already ongoing for Hurricane Milton.
Assistance for Hurricane Helene-affected farmers and producers
Earlier this month, Security of agriculture Tom Vilsack declared that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) would provide aid to farmers and other producers affected by Hurricane Helene.
For those working in agriculture, hurricanes can be disastrous. Because hurricanes bring strong winds and a lot of rain, they can physically harm infrastructure and crops. The local and national food supply production chain may be disrupted as a result.
USDA’s Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI) provides aid to farmers and producers impacted by Hurricane Helene. Part of the deductibles associated with crop insurance policies are covered by this scheme.
It is accessible to farmers in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Hawaiian regions and covers more than 70 different crops. During hurricane season, Florida and the Gulf Coast are frequently pounded hard.
“Several states across the southeast experienced devastating damages from Hurricane Helene, which caused significant destruction right before the fall harvest season,” Secretary Vilsack stated. “The Biden-Harris Administration and USDA will support farmers through the recovery process for the long haul, and this includes today’s step of making innovative types of coverage available and getting funds into the hands of producers quickly.”
$233 million is set aside to compensate for losses
The disbursement of $233 million to compensate for Hurricane Helene’s damages has been authorized by the Biden-Harris Administration. The hurricane assistance budget is a substantial sum.
As of right now, the Gulf Coast and southeast U.S. have received $128 million for Hurricane Francine, $214 million for Hurricane Debby, and $58 million for Hurricane Beryl. This means that over $630 million will be disbursed in 2024 overall.
The good news for farmers is that they can get aid without having to submit any documentation. The RMA will immediately distribute funds to you if your country is eligible for relief.
You can consult local actuarial documentation and Product Management Bulletin 24-067 to find out if your county was eligible for relief aid. These benefits will supplement any other insurance plans that farmers could have.
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Climate change will only lead to an increase in hurricanes
Devastating hurricanes like the ones that hit the country this year will only increase in frequency in some regions as the world fights climate change.
Increased water temperatures allow storms to absorb more energy, resulting in bigger hurricanes and faster wind speeds. The Atlantic region experienced an above-normal hurricane season this year, which has been connected to rising ocean temperatures that hit a record high this year.
The world must make a commitment to decreasing rising sea temperatures and reaching carbon neutrality in order to prevent more harm from being exacerbated by an increase in hurricanes.
The current climate targets call for greenhouse gas emissions to peak by 2025 and drop by 43% by 2030 in order to prevent global warming from exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2040.
