Many people have already forgotten about Hurricane Floyd. Most of those who still have vivid memories about this hurricane think only about the record-breaking rainfall and unusual amount of flooding in the area, along with the inconvenience that this flooding caused. But for some, the memories remain in the form of financial losses that have still not been recovered.

Following Hurricane Floyd the state legislature allocated a historic amount of financial assistance to help the many families and businesses that suffered losses. Although many people received this financial assistance, along with additional assistance from private, civic, and church groups, there is still a lot of work to be done in the northeastern part of the state to help these people get their lives back to normal.

I heard a plea just a few days ago for skilled carpenters to volunteer their time and expertise to help finish some of the detailed repairs that are still needed to homes. Thousands of volunteers, some of them from Robeson County, traveled to those areas that were so hard hit by flooding to help clean up houses and make needed general repairs. Most of these volunteers were not skilled carpenters, so even though they could do a lot of work, they could not complete the tasks that called for skilled laborers. What is needed now is people who know how to hang sheetrock, replace and repair the plumbing and electrical services in these homes, and other specialized repairs. If you are a skilled carpenter and would like to volunteer your services, please contact the disaster relief committee in your church, the local Red Cross, or your local Emergency Management Services.

The state legislature also allocated almost $90 million to help farmers recover from their losses due to the flooding. Although we were fortunate in Robeson County in that our losses were very minor when compared to those living in the northeast, there were some farmers, primarily in the eastern part of the county, who suffered significant losses. We are aware that several of these farmers received some of this financial assistance.

There is currently about $6 million left in this disaster relief fund. Efforts are now underway to distribute these funds to farmers who still have documented losses because of Hurricane Floyd.

Application forms and instructions for filling out these forms are available from local Cooperative Extension Centers in each of the 46 counties, including Robeson, that were declared disaster areas. Any monies not requested by farmers by March 9 will be reverted to the state to help cover the severe budget shortfall that is currently being faced.

Only farmers are eligible for these funds. A Farm Service Agency farm number is required for application. The amount available ranges from $1,000 to no more than $15,000 per farmer. Losses must be documented with bills, letters, or statements from lenders or businesses that have not yet been fully paid. This financial assistance is intended for unpaid debt only.

In addition to financial assistance to cover losses from the hurricane, these funds are also providing financial planning and counseling assistance to any farmer requesting them, whether or not they are requesting financial assistance. Applications for this assistance is not necessary, simply requesting this service is all that is needed. In light of low market prices for most commodities and unanticipated expenses that most farmers are facing, this financial planning assistance can help determine a true and accurate picture of the financial health of the farm business. Well-developed farm plans are an important tool to help farmers be more profitable during difficult times.

If you are a farmer in Robeson County who suffered losses from Hurricane Floyd and have not been able to pay off your debts because of this hurricane, please contact your Cooperative Extension Center. If you feel you don't need this assistance but know of others who may, please let them know about this program. Again, the absolute deadline for applications for these funds is March 9, 2001.

In closing, I would like to remind you that free pine seedlings will be distributed again tomorrow, February 23, at the O. P. Owens Agriculture Center in Lumberton. These seedlings are provided by International Paper Tree Nursery here in Lumberton. Bundles of 25 seedlings will be provided to homeowners or farm owners who need just a few seedlings for ornamental purposes or to establish windbreaks around the house or barnyard.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 05/01/01