Recovery continues in parts of our region from Helene. The storm hit in late September and caused billions of dollars in damage across the south.
The agricultural sector suffered major losses in Virginia, with more than $60 million in Grayson County alone.
10 News followed up with Sarah Torres with Cresthaven Farms, whom we first spoke with in October in the weeks following the storm. Helene damaged barns and brought down fencing. They also lost a corn crop due to flooding along the New River and power outages meant they lost milk from their dairy farm.
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“The dairy industry for a farm our size, it’s not always very profitable. so we were already kind of struggling. and then you add these factors beyond your control to it,” Torres said.
In the months since, severe winter storms caused more damage and delayed recovery. But farmers have been receiving aid ahead of the busy spring season. Cresthaven Farms obtained funding to repair buildings and replace lost feed.
“We are a lot better than we would have been had we not received the assistance that we received,” Torres said. “We’re hopeful to repair the most important things first and then hopefully some more cosmetic repairs.”
Kevin Spurlin, Grayson County Extension Agent, said funding opened up after the state and federal government established criteria for relief. Even months later, Spurlin said farmers are still discovering damage and debris on their properties.
“A lot of that repair work is still yet to be done. it will be an ongoing process for a few years,” he said.
But he said no farmers have told him they want to sell their farms.
“We’re a resilient bunch, and our farmers have not complained,” Spurlin said. “They just strap it up and say and say this is what we have to do to carry on.”
