Agricultural producers in more than 200 counties in six Southeastern states will receive nearly $234 million for wind losses sustained during Hurricane Helene, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Tuesday. Crop insurance companies were expected to pay the indemnities within 30 days.
The payments will go to producers who have a wind index endorsement for hurricanes and tropical storms as part of crop insurance coverage and who live in counties identified by the Risk Management Agency with wind damage. The USDA said farms did not need to file a claim. The payment would be in addition to any other indemnities due from the underlying crop insurance policy.
Georgia would receive the bulk of the indemnities, $207.7 million, said the USDA. Florida will receive $12.8 million in payments; Alabama, $5 million; North Carolina, $4.1 million; South Carolina, $4.1 million; and Virginia, $61,000. The USDA listed 144 of Georgia’s 159 counties as eligible for wind loss indemnities.
The USDA list of counties eligible for wind index payments is available here.