Ag News

Report shows disaster response challenges with Hurricane Helene

A new report released by the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture (GFA) reveals the immense challenges Georgia farmers faced in the first 72 hours following Hurricane Helene, the deadliest U.S. storm since Hurricane Katrina. Based on a rapid-response survey of 147 farmers from 44 counties in Helene’s path, the “Stabilizing After the Storm” report paints a sobering picture of widespread system failures, delayed recovery and unmet needs across Georgia’s agricultural communities hit by the storm on Sept. 27, 2024.

The report highlights that 99% of farmers surveyed lost power, 93% lost internet and cellphone coverage, and 71% lost access to water for livestock and crops. In many cases, these critical systems failed simultaneously, leaving farms completely isolated and unable to begin recovery efforts.

“This wasn’t just about power outages. Farmers lost access to water, roads, communications – everything that makes a farm run, said Lily Baucom, GFA executive director. “The recovery didn’t stall because farmers weren’t prepared. It stalled because the systems they rely on failed all at once.”

Key findings from the report:

• Power outages affected 99% of survey respondents, with 88% still without power five days later. It is important to note that Helene damaged some power grids in many parts of the storm’s path so severely that the grids had to be completely rebuilt, which required more time. The GFA acknowledges that power companies restored power as quickly as possible and thanks all the linemen, many from other states, who worked so hard to restore power.

• Road blockages prevented 84% of farmers from reaching their barns or fields.

• Communication failures meant 60% of respondents could not call 911 or connect with family.

• Water access was lost by 71% of respondents, severely impacting livestock care and sanitation;

• Financial strain was a top concern, with many spending thousands of dollars on generators, fuel and repairs.

The report elevates farmer-led solutions, calling for low-cost, community-based strategies like wiring wells for generator use, organizing volunteer chainsaw crews, and creating fuel and equipment-sharing networks.

“Resilience doesn’t always mean high-tech,” said Dr. Stephanie Basey, co-author of the study from The HIVE Research Collective. “What worked were things like a printed emergency contact list, a neighbor with a chainsaw, or a barn already wired for backup power.”

Policy and planning implications

The report calls for stronger county-level emergency planning that includes:

• Prioritized power restoration for livestock corridors

• Funding for shared-use equipment and generator wiring

• Local communication alternatives when cell towers go down

• Mental health check-ins alongside physical aid

The report also identifies alignment opportunities with USDA, FEMA and rural infrastructure grant programs to build long-term resilience.

“We cannot continue to respond to rural disasters with one-size-fits-all plans,” said report co-author Dr. Anne Montgomery of the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center. “This report shows that early, local, physical support is what keeps farms afloat in those first critical days.”

The report was developed through the Weathered But Strong initiative, with support from the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture. It includes data, direct quotes from farmers, and practical recommendations to guide emergency managers, funders and policymakers.

Download the full report at https://www.supportgeorgiafarmers.org.

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