‘We are here’: Agencies continue working to help South Carolina farmers recover from Helene

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) - From severe drought, inflation and the continued impacts of Hurricane Helene - this year has been a challenging one for many South Carolina farmers.

“We have this combination of a whole lot of bad things that are all happening at the same time,” said Harry Ott, president of the South Carolina Farm Bureau.

Now, a Farm Forest and Recovery Resource Day is helping some farmers bounce back months after Hurricane Helene.

“It’s just been a challenge all year growing crops,” said Raleigh Ward, a member of the South Carolina Farm Bureau. “We just need some type of assistance to get us back to where we were.”

More than 20 state and federal agencies came together in Myrtle Beach on Friday in an effort to help farmers.

The meeting was one of three different Farm and Forest Recovery Days held across South Carolina, which is still grappling with damage from Helene.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is just one of several helping farmers get back on their feet.

“We know that the agricultural community is the lifeblood here in the State of South Carolina and many farmers sustained damage to their personal property and some to their equipment,” said Nikki Campbell, a media relations specialist with FEMA. “We are here to meet the disaster survivor and many farmers are disaster survivors and we are here to meet them in their current situation.”

More than $231 in housing and other types of FEMA assistance has been approved since Helene.

“If you’re a farmer you could possibly get assistance with equipment that was damaged with Hurricane Helene,” said Campbell.

The support comes after Helene wiped out thousands of homes and businesses in Western North Carolina and parts of South Carolina, killing over 200 people.

“We know that navigating the recovery process can be difficult and this is all new and can be stressful or them,” said Campbell.

Farmers said it’s all about the community pulling together.

“If we can be successful. Everyone else is going to receive the benefits,” said Ward.

Many farmers also told WMBF News they are resilient and they’re going to come back even stronger next year.

Stay with WMBF News for updates.