Recovering from Hurricane Matthew

Flooding from Matthew in Kinston. (Photo by Jocelyn Augustino/FEMA)It is now the beginning of November and North Carolinians are still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Matthew. More than a foot of rain was dumped across central and eastern N.C., breaking levees and several flood records from past hurricanes. Authorities estimate that the cost from Hurricane Matthew will exceed $1.5 billion.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved natural disaster designations for 39 N.C. counties. All qualified farm operators in the designated natural disaster counties are eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met.

Our goal is to assist fellow North Carolinians with accessing the information needed for their recovery.

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HORTICULTURE RESOURCES

  1. Managing Storm and Disaster Damage in Landscapes and Nurseries
  2. NC Green Industry Hurricane Matthew Recovery Resources
  3. Weed Management After the Flood
  4. Food Safety with Flooded Food Crops & Marketing Assessments
  5. Evaluating the Safety of Flood-affected Food Crops for Human Consumption
  6. Storm Damaged Landscape Trees
  7. Tips for Hiring a Tree Care Expert
  8. Turfgrass Management after Hurricane Matthew
  9. Pest Problems in the Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew
  10. Sweetpotato Harvest Considerations After Hurricane Matthew

Helping the Spanish-Speaking Population Deal with Natural Disasters in North Carolina (¿Buscando recursos en Español?)

Additional recovery fact sheets are available online at NC Disaster Information Center or the Extension Resource Catalog.


NC STATE UNIVERSITY RESOURCES

  • Daily Digest Updates | Hurricane Matthew
    Extension is continuously gathering important updates from a broad range of sources covering a wide variety of topics related to Hurricane Matthew recovery efforts. These compiled resources are in a central location throughout the critical recovery stages to assist Extension employees with accessing the information they need.
  • Hurricane Disaster Resources
    NC State Agriculture & Resource Economics provides resources for immediate and long-range disaster management.
  • New Videos Assist Growers with FSA Disaster Programs
    NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, working in partnership with N.C. Farm Bureau and USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), have developed a series of videos to assist agents and growers with navigating and applying for FSA’s various disaster assistance programs.
  • Extra Leave Approved for Hurricane-Affected Employees
    The University of North Carolina system has been authorized to offer up to 80 hours of “Other Management Approved Leave” to employees who have spent or need to spend time off handling damage to their homes caused by Hurricane Matthew. Extension employees can follow the link to find more details and a request form.

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS / DISASTER RELIEF

  • NCDA&CS Disaster Website
    You can’t predict when a tornado, hurricane, hazmat or other emergency will strike your business. But you can be prepared and have a plan in case something does happen. Farms, ranches, food warehouses, pesticide dealers and more all have different needs, but the planning basics are the same.
  • USDA-FSA Disaster Assistance Programs
    The Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers disaster assistance and loan programs to assist agricultural producers in their recovery efforts following floods or other qualifying natural disasters.
  • SBA Disaster Loan Program Updates
    The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering disaster assistance to residents of North Carolina affected by Hurricane Matthew, and has provided detailed information for farm-related and non-farm related businesses.
  • Flooded Crops Cannot Be Used for Human Food (Guidance from NCDA&CS / FDA)
    NCDA&CS has announced a plan to help farmers divert flooded crops to animal feed after testing, based on U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations. Additional guidance regarding the process will be shared when available.
  • Disaster Legal Services Hotline
    This toll-free legal aid hotline allows callers to request the assistance of a lawyer in a variety of legal issues, such as requesting FEMA and other benefits, filing insurance claims, and help with home contractors.
  • RAFI Hurricane Matthew Disaster Relief for Farmers
    The Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) created a guide to assist farmers and communities impacted by Hurricane Matthew with disaster relief efforts