Pickup truck loaded with water from Chattooga County delivered to Coffee County last week by Chattooga Young Farmers

Farmers in southeast Georgia are struggling to recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene, the most destructive and costly hurricane the region has ever seen, surpassing even Hurricane Katrina. The storm, which struck last week, brought with it a foot of rain and hurricane-force winds of 125 mph, causing widespread damage to crops, livestock, and infrastructure. The epicenter of the storm’s impact was Coffee County, where 30 tornadoes touched down during the hurricane, further compounding the damage.

Last week, Chattooga County Young Farmers gathered donations and took them to Coffee County to help farmers who had been impacted by the storm.  Chattooga Young Farmer Director Lauren Jarrett told WZQZ News that the devastation from the storm was widespread and catastrophic for multiple farmers.

The impact of Hurricane Helene will be felt for years to come, with many farmers facing a long road to rebuild and recover from the devastating losses. They are calling on state and federal officials to provide immediate disaster assistance to help them get back on their feet.

Chattooga Young Farmers are holding their meeting for October this evening at the Chattooga County Ag Building and will be discussing more ways to help farmers in areas of the state impacted by the hurricane.