Expanded Insurance Coverage and Emergency Procedures Aim to Accelerate Recovery Efforts Across the Southeast.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced additional support for agricultural producers affected by Hurricane Helene to aid their recovery efforts. Under the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI) endorsement, Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) are set to distribute payments within 30 days. However, AIPs often expedite payments sooner, ensuring that farmers can begin rebuilding their operations promptly.
HIP-WI, first introduced for the 2020 hurricane season, was expanded in 2023 to include a Tropical Storm Option (TS). For damages caused by Hurricane Helene, producers covered by these endorsements will receive over $233 million in indemnities.
These funds are intended to directly assist farmers and rural communities as they recover from hurricane-related losses. In a press statement, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment and USDA’s commitment to support farmers throughout the recovery. “Several states across the southeast experienced devastating damages from Hurricane Helene, which caused significant destruction right before the fall harvest season,” he said.
Georgia is among the hardest-hit states, with producers there receiving approximately $207.7 million in payments. Other states also receiving indemnities include Florida with $12.8 million, Alabama with $5 million, and both North and South Carolina with $4.1 million each.
The financial assistance from Hurricane Helene adds to previous payments issued for other 2024 storms, including $58 million for Hurricane Beryl, $214 million for Hurricane Debby, and $128 million for Hurricane Francine, totaling over $630 million in disaster relief for farmers this year.
As part of the USDA’s ongoing recovery initiatives, Deputy Agriculture Secretary Xochitl Torres Small recently visited South Carolina and Georgia. During her trip, she met with local farmers and organizations involved in recovery efforts. In partnership with Feeding America, she also contributed to packing emergency food supplies at the Golden Harvest Food Bank in Georgia. These visits aim to connect USDA with stakeholders on the ground and provide essential resources to impacted communities.
The USDA has also implemented emergency procedures to expedite assistance for those affected. The Risk Management Agency (RMA) is working closely with insurance companies to streamline the claims process, minimize paperwork, and accelerate indemnity payments.
These measures apply to all affected counties in states such as Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. By simplifying the claims process, the USDA aims to reduce burdens on both insurance providers and producers.
A crucial component of the HIP-WI program is its coverage of hurricane-related losses when sustained winds hit a county or its adjacent areas, based on data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Since the National Center for Environmental Information in Asheville, North Carolina, was impacted by Hurricane Helene, the RMA utilized alternative data sources from the National Hurricane Center to identify payment triggers. As the USDA awaits additional data, further payments may be issued in alignment with completed claims.
The expanded coverage under HIP-WI, including the Tropical Storm Option, is available in numerous counties across states such as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Texas, and the Carolinas. Notably, TS coverage offers protection for storms with sustained winds of at least 34 knots and a minimum of six inches of rain over four days, ensuring producers are compensated for severe weather events.
Producers insured under HIP-WI do not need to file separate claims to receive payments; if a county meets the program’s criteria, indemnities will be automatically processed. This endorsement provides an added safety net by covering a portion of the deductible from underlying crop insurance policies. In recent years, the HIP-WI program has proven instrumental, with over $1.1 billion distributed in indemnities to farmers across affected areas.
The USDA emphasizes that crop insurance policies are exclusively managed by private insurance agents, with agent directories accessible through USDA Service Centers and the RMA’s Agent Locator tool. Additional resources and information about insurance policies can be found at rma.usda.gov or by contacting local RMA offices.
Through federal crop insurance and innovative risk management programs, the USDA continues to strengthen agricultural resilience. With a broader focus on local food systems, sustainable practices, and rural equity under the Biden-Harris administration, the USDA remains committed to supporting America’s farmers in the face of increasing climate challenges. For further details, the HIP-WI website provides policy explanations, FAQs, and other essential information.
