Despite some having their own homes without power or damaged in the wake of Hurricane Helene, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) faculty and staff across 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.”
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 requests 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 coordinating UF/IFAS Extension support in Madison County, securing a site for beekeepers to receive support and coordinating distribution of supplies.
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 specific 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 agricultural assessments.
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.
Second Hurricane
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 provide power.
A distribution center was established in Bartow, Florida, 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.
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.”
Source: UF/IFAS