Hurricane Helene Agricultural Disaster Relief Block Grant

The USDA Block Grant Disaster Relief Program is a state-administered initiative that provides targeted support to North Carolina agricultural producers affected by Hurricane Helene in 2024. Through a block grant agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) has been allocated $221 million to deliver aid for agricultural losses not already covered by federal programs or crop insurance. The funds originate from the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2025 (Division B of the American Relief Act, 2025, P.L. 118-158) and are structured to support unmet recovery needs in designated disaster areas. This relief program is limited to counties in North Carolina that received a Presidential Disaster Declaration or were designated as disaster areas by the Secretary under the Stafford Act for Hurricane Helene in calendar year 2024, as well as any counties contiguous to those areas. Eligible producers in these counties can apply for assistance across four defined loss categories: Infrastructure Loss, Market Loss for Commodities and Value-Added Products, Future Economic Loss, and Timber Loss. Only those losses not compensated under other USDA relief programs or crop insurance are eligible for coverage. The program requires applicants to submit a separate application for each eligible category and for each county in which they are applying. The application period for Infrastructure Loss, Market Loss, and Future Economic Loss categories runs from March 30, 2026 through May 15, 2026. The Timber Loss category operates on a separate timeline and is administered by the North Carolina Forest Service. Producers interested in the timber component must check the NC Forest Service website or contact their local County Ranger for application instructions and deadlines. Applications for each category are accessible through the designated program webpage. Each category follows a specific submission format, but there is no pre-application requirement. Applicants must demonstrate losses not already covered by existing USDA mechanisms, and documentation may be required for verification. The streamlined structure is designed to minimize barriers for disaster-impacted producers while maintaining accountability in fund disbursement. Questions about the program can be directed to the NCDA&CS Ag Disaster Program at 866-747-9823 or via email at [email protected]. For Timber Loss inquiries, the NC Forest Service is the lead contact. Additionally, Andrea Ashby is listed as a contact person and can be reached at [email protected]. The program is a one-time relief measure created in response to the 2024 disaster event and is not part of an annually recurring opportunity. By targeting uncovered losses, this disaster relief grant serves to close the remaining financial gaps for North Carolina’s agricultural producers recovering from Hurricane Helene. It represents a crucial bridge for those whose insurance or USDA coverage did not fully account for the scope of economic and environmental damages sustained during the event.