Last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced additional support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to aid producers affected by Hurricane Helene in their recovery efforts. The USDA has identified counties eligible for payments under the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI) endorsement for Hurricane Helene. Approved Insurance Providers (AIP) now have 30 days to issue payments, though they typically do so much sooner.
The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) first introduced HIP-WI during the 2020 hurricane season, and last year expanded the program to include the Tropical Storm (TS) option. For losses due to Hurricane Helene, producers with these endorsements will receive over $233 million in indemnity payments, helping farmers and rural communities recover.
“Hurricane Helene caused significant damage across several southeastern states, disrupting the fall harvest season,” said Secretary Vilsack. “The Biden-Harris Administration and the USDA are committed to supporting farmers through the recovery process by offering innovative coverage options and ensuring producers receive funds quickly.”