Hurricane Relief Supplies Needed

Now that the rivers have finally crested in the southeastern counties of North Carolina, relief efforts can expand safely and reach more people who are in dire need.  Farmers in the affected counties are in need of a lot of resources, including feed, hay, fencing materials, livestock panels, veterinary supplies and many other items that are needed on farms to work with livestock and, of course, with horses. 

Many people have already sent needed agricultural items to the affected areas, and there are agricultural distribution points set up in at least two locations so far, with that number likely to increase as flood waters recede.  There is a real shortage of hay packaged in small square bales.  These bales are good to use in boats and trucks when horses or livestock are found needing something to eat.  While large round bales are great and more readily available, they are more difficult to use in these early situations in flooded areas.  Anyone who has small square bales to donate, or has fencing materials, livestock panels or veterinary supplies to donate should call the NCDA&CS Agriculture Weather Emergency Hotline at 1-866-645-9403 to receive instructions on where items can be sent to meet the most need.  The folks at the NCDS&CS are working with the Ag Emergency Operations at NC State to meet agricultural needs, including the needs of horse owners.

Horse owners should also be aware that there are groups active in the flooded counties offering to provide assistance that have other goals in mind.  There are cases where a group has offered assistance, the horse owner has accepted the help, and their horses are not seen again.  I’d call that rustling, which I believe is still a felony.  Horse owners, and all livestock farmers, need to be aware and check the credentials for anyone working in the recovery effort.  Certainly, there is plenty to do in cleaning up pastures and structures after a major storm like this.  Horse owners should not have to worry about the legitimacy of a group offering help, but unfortunately there are plenty of folks looking to take advantage of people in difficult situations.

Again, to get guidance on where to take small bales of hay, fencing materials, veterinary supplies, or other agriculture flood relief items, call the NCDA&CS Agriculture Weather Emergency Hotline at 1-866-645-9403.