Georgia farmers and landowners impacted by the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene can access crucial relief through the SAFETY 24 loan program, the Weathered But Strong relief grant, and Georgia Forestry Commission emergency assistance programs. These initiatives are designed to provide financial support for recovery efforts, helping Georgia’s ag community rebuild, replace lost income, and restore their operations.
A key requirement for several of these programs is that applicant farms must be located in a FEMA designated disaster zone. If your farm or land is within one of these impacted areas, you may be eligible for support to assist in your recovery process.
Explore the resources below to learn more about the application process, eligibility criteria, and how to get the help you need to recover and rebuild.
FEMA Designated Disaster Areas in Georgia:
Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Banks, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bleckley, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Dawson, Decatur, Dodge, Dooly, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Franklin, Fulton, Gilmer, Glascock, Glynn, Grady, Greene, Habersham, Hancock, Hart, Irwin, Jackson, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lamar, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, Lumpkin, Madison, McDuffie, McIntosh, Mitchell, Monroe, Montgomery, Newton, Oglethorpe, Pierce, Pike, Pulaski, Putnam, Rabun, Richmond, Screven, Stephens, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Twiggs, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wheeler, White, Wilcox, Wilkes, Wilkinson, and Worth Counties.
SAFETY 24 is a low-interest emergency loan program designed to provide Georgia farmers affected by Hurricane Helene with the financial support needed to recover from property damage, replace lost income, and maintain farm operations until additional federal assistance becomes available. (Applications will be accepted starting November 22, 2024, and will remain open until funding is exhausted.)
How to Apply:
- The application form and additional details can be found online at https://www.gdaonline.com/hurricane-helene-loan-program/
- Applications can be submitted online via email or via regular mail.
- Online applications should be sent to anita@gdaonline.com
- Printed applications should be sent to the below address:
Georgia Development Authority
1890 Highway 130
Monroe, Ga 39655
Required Documents:
Applications must include the following documents to be considered:
- SAFETY 24 Application Form
- Product Loss Verification Form
- This form is to be completed by your crop insurance agent, UGA Extension Service, Farm Service Agency, or a loan specialist.
- Operating Credit Continuity Agreement
- An agreement must be obtained from applicants’ primary operating credit provider stating that the primary operating credit provider will continue financing operating capital for the applicant, after the SAFETY 24 loan closes, for the next year of operation. If the operation does not require credit for operating capital and therefore a letter from a primary operating credit provider is not obtainable, a letter of intent from an entity the farm has a contractual relationship with stating that the entity will continue the contractual relationship with the farm will suffice.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Applicant must be a farm operator who suffered a loss to their property or income as a result of Hurricane Helene.
- Applicants must be 18+ and a permanent legal resident and citizen of Georgia.
- Applicant must be the majority owner of a farm affected by Hurricane Helene. (Note: Each household is eligible for only one loan, identified by the applicant’s social security number.)
- The farm must have been established prior to September 27, 2024.
- Estates and publicly held corporations will not be considered qualified applicants.
- Qualifications are subject to GDA Board approval.
- The farm operation owned by the applicant that was impacted must be in a county designated by FEMA as a disaster area or any adjacent county.
Weathered But Strong is dedicated to offering vital financial relief through grants to those affected by Hurricane Helene. (Application Deadline: December 31, 2024)
Eligibility Requirements:
- Eligible farmers must hold a current valid GATE card number issued through the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
- All farming operations impacted by Hurricane Helene may apply, but priority will be given to those in counties declared to be in a disaster zone by FEMA.
How to Apply
Farmers must submit their applications online at www.supportgeorgiafarmers.org/application.
The Georgia Forestry Commission has launched two emergency assistance programs: the Hurricane Helene Fuel Mitigation (FMit) Program and the Forest Access Road and Firebreak Restoration Project. These programs are designed to support landowners impacted by Hurricane Helene. For more details on these relief programs see below or visit GaTrees.org.
This program is designed to assist landowners in managing forest fuels created by Hurricane Helene, with the goal of enhancing public safety. By implementing strategic practices, the program aims to reduce wildfire risks in affected areas, improve access, lower forest fuel loads, mitigate wildfire threats in the wildland-urban interface, and install or improve firebreaks.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Non-industrial landowners, which means any private individual, group, association, corporation, Indian tribe or other native group, other private legal entity, excluding corporations whose stocks are publicly traded or legal entities principally engaged in the processing or manufacturing of wood products.
- Property must be located within FEMA Hurricane Helene disaster declaration zone.
- Minimum practice size is 10 acres.
How to Apply:
The application period is open now through December 13, 2024. More information and application are available here.
This project provides for the clearing of forest debris from existing firebreaks and roads at no cost to the landowner and is available to landowners in the designated 91-county disaster area impacted by Hurricane Helene.
How to Apply:
Online applications will be accepted now through December 6, 2024 and landowners may apply here: Hurricane Helene Firebreaks Cleanout.