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NC Commissioner Troxler: Update on the Aftermath of Hurricane Debby

Mike Davis

On the heels of the remnants of Hurricane Debby moving through the state, the department continues to assess damage from heavy rains and tornadoes. It will be some time before we have a clearer picture of its impact.

Flooding of the Tar River at Louisburg, Franklin County, NC on Friday, August 9, 2024 following Tropical Storm Debby. Photo credit Mike Davis/SFN

  • Last week was a challenging week for farmers across the state as they did what they could to prepare for the heavy rains from Hurricane Debby.   
  • We are continuing to assess the damage from this storm, and I know from experience it is going to take a while to have a more complete picture of any damage.
  • That is always the case following storms like these.
  • We know we have had flooding in some areas where we typically see flooding, and water is expected to continue to rise through Monday.
  • Throughout the storm and over the weekend, I have heard from a number of farmers statewide, and from what I am hearing it looks like we dodged a bullet overall, but I think this rain could become problematic for crops as this year goes on. Particularly in terms of disease pressure and insect pressure. So, we don’t have a real clear picture yet.
  • We have received a number of reports of tobacco damage from the storm. It is especially vulnerable to rain and high winds right now.
  • We did have an early report Thursday of one turkey and one poultry house in Wilson that were damaged by tornadoes that came through the area.
  • I know birds were moved to other houses or on to processing.
  • Our staff have worked through the weekend, assisting where needed and taking calls from farmers.
  • I would encourage any farmers who are planning to cut corn for silage to consider testing the material through our Farm Feed Testing Program to ensure it is safe for your livestock to eat.
  • This testing will provide the nutritional content and other information about the feed. It cost $10 per sample, but I believe that is a good investment to be safe and not sorry when it comes to animal feeds.