Bill Hoffman, a county Cooperative Extension agent in Avery County, hauls a wheelbarrow of wood with farmer Amos Nidiffer. Avery County was one of the western N.C. counties impacted severely by Hurricane Helene. Extension agents have been working alongside residents on recovery.


Hurricane Helene cut a devastating swath across Western North Carolina and through the state’s $111 billion agricultural economy.

Families with gardens that may have been submerged in flood waters now wonder about produce safety. Ranchers have livestock that may need hay or feed supplements, or veterinary services. Farmers need equipment to begin to repair. N.C. A&T Cooperative Extension is here, providing help with immediate needs and long-term recovery through the N.C. Cooperative Extension System, according to M. Ray McKinnie, Ph.D., associate dean and N.C. A&T Cooperative Extension administrator.

“Our agents live and work in the counties, and those impacted people are our neighbors,” McKinnie said. “For us, it’s not just professional, it’s personal. Our boots are on the ground.”

The Extension system is providing help with:

Providing Essential Supplies

  • Distributing hay, food, water and equipment to farmers and affected families;
  • Partnering with local organizations to ensure resource delivery to communities.

Coordinating Relief and Recovery Efforts

  • Task force teams of Extension agents are currently working in affected areas, responding to community needs and collaborating with other volunteers to streamline relief efforts;
  • Providing assistance with livestock, crops and infrastructure recovery.

For more information