Despite some having their own homes without power or damaged in the wake of Hurricane Helene, UF/IFAS faculty and staff from around North Florida readied themselves as an Incident Command Post was established at the Suwannee County Fairgrounds.
“Our Extension agents got to work quickly, helping farmers put up fences, clear debris and assess damages across their property,” said Angela Lindsey, UF/IFAS associate professor within the Center for Public Issues Education (PIE Center). “They care about their communities because they are a part of their communities, and they want to see these areas return to a healthy, thriving state.”
READ: Hillsborough County Extends State Of Emergency Due to Hurricane Milton
UF/IFAS Extension agents from various counties assisted with mission requests with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Emergency Support Function 17 (FDACS ESF 17), which addresses animal and agricultural issues across Florida. These mission address needs and gaps after a crisis, including pet shelter and animal evacuations, food donations and search and rescue missions.
Lindsey serves as the UF/IFAS Extension liaison for the FDACS State Agricultural Response Team (SART). She assisted in completing several missions, including coordinating UF/IFAS Extension support in Madison County, securing a site for beekeepers to receive support and coordinating distribution of supplies. For example, when animal shelters need food or dairy farmers are running low on hay and feed after a storm, centralized coordination helps keep the agricultural operations moving for Florida.
At a meeting with farmers following Hurricane Helene in Live Oak with Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson to hear and discuss the impacts to their farms and herds, UF/IFAS learned specifics needs for how to best help those farmers and ranchers as they begin the long road to recovery. Christa Court, associate professor of regional economics and director of Economic Impact Analysis Program, was in attendance and distributed information regarding conducting agricultural assessments. These are the tools that help her team evaluate and determine the damages sustained by the state’s agriculture industry after every storm and are critical to understanding the need.
READ: Tampa Bay Rays Front Office Finds New Home After Hurricane Milton Rips Tropicana Field
UF/IFAS personnel sent dozens of hot meals from the North Central Florida Turfgrass Field Day to residents and cleanup volunteers in Cedar Key in early October, sending brisket, green beans, macaroni and cheese, cucumber salad, Texas toast and cobbler. They had two coolers of ice-cold water that went, as well.
A second hurricane ramps up the effort
After Hurricane Milton, UF/IFAS worked with the Florida Forest Service, FDACS and other departments to remove debris to gain access to critical areas. UF/IFAS helped deploy 32 generators to agricultural facilities to support with power outages.
In Bartow, Florida, A distribution center was established to deliver animal food and supplies. The UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County office offered hot meals to those in need, and the office served as a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC), staffed with personnel from federal, state and regional partners to help residents impacted by the hurricane get access to resources. Visitors to a MARC can get guidance on applying for FEMA individual assistance, request help from non-profit and state partners for food, water, housing and more, meet with a disability advocate to learn about storm recovery resources and even apply for a replacement driver’s license or ID through a representative from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
UF/IFAS also distributed resources on mental health, especially resources dedicated toward farmers’ mental health and resilience.
“After multiple disasters, such as Hurricanes Helene and Milton, people are struggling with both tangible and intangible challenges,” Lindsey said. “Distributing resources on funding, in addition to crucial information such as mental health, is critical during response and recovery. It’s the mix of resources that UF/IFAS Extension can provide that makes it such a valuable asset to communities across the state.”
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