Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced new relief efforts from the USDA for farmers and producers hit hard by Hurricane Helene. The assistance comes through the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI) program, which has identified eligible counties set to receive payouts. Insurance providers will have 30 days to distribute the funds, though payments often arrive sooner.
Launched by the USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) in 2020, HIP-WI was expanded last year to include a Tropical Storm Option (TS).
“Several states across the southeast experienced devastating damages from Hurricane Helene, which caused significant destruction right before the fall harvest season,” said Secretary Vilsack. “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.”
Through these initiatives, producers with the endorsement are set to receive over $233 million to cover losses from Hurricane Helene. This financial support aims to help farmers and rural areas recover quickly from the storm’s devastating effects.
This latest round of funding adds to $58 million already paid out for Hurricane Beryl, $214 million for Hurricane Debby, and $128 million for Hurricane Francine, which impacted the Gulf Coast and southeastern U.S. in recent months. Altogether, more than $630 million in payments have been distributed under HIP-WI and TS in 2024, showing the scale of assistance provided during this intense hurricane season.
Do I need to apply for assistance after being affected by Hurricane Helene?
Unlike typical insurance claims, producers do not need to file paperwork to receive HIP-WI payouts. Payments are automatically issued if a county meets the criteria for sustained hurricane winds, as identified by RMA.
Details of which counties have been approved for payments can be found in Product Management Bulletin 24-067 and local actuarial documents.
Producers eligible under HIP-WI will receive these payouts in addition to any benefits from their standard crop insurance policies, which are being processed through normal claims procedures.
