How to Help Farmers Clean Up Debris After Hurricane Helen

(WDBJ) – Virginia Cooperative Extension is assessing damage to farms from Hurricane Helen. At the moment, this amount is estimated at $160 million.

“There are communities that have been impacted by this and they will tell this story for generations to come,” said Dan Gerlich, deputy director of Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Virginia Cooperative Extension is working to supply goods to farmers. They have several collection points for items such as feed, fencing and gates throughout southwest Virginia.

“Much of the forage that our farmers stored in the summer for the winter went down the river,” explained Brandon Reeves, executive director of the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association.

The Virginia Cattlemen’s Foundation is raising funds to help.

Reeves has seen the devastation in Grayson County firsthand.

“I saw an operation that was almost completely wiped out by flood waters, and it was pretty devastating,” Reeves said.

Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Cattlemen’s Foundation and several others are committed to helping our farmers get back into business.

“We are here for the long haul and are committed to serving people during this period of time,” Gerlich said.

Virginia Cooperative Extension has a Hurricane Helen resource page. There is information about disaster relief programs for farmers, as well as ways to help by volunteering or donating.

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