Many green industry companies in eastern North Carolina are still reeling in the destruction and persistent flooding caused by Hurricane Matthew. Many operations remain under several feet of water, and businesses that have seen floodwater recede are dealing with catastrophic structure, crop and equipment damage.
“The damage wrought by Hurricane Matthew on our members is absolutely devastating,” said North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association (NCNLA) President Brad Rollins. “Ours is a unique industry, one in which competitors come together to lift one another up. We’re going to need every bit of that support in the weeks and months ahead.”
The NCNLA has responded by disseminating the following resources to begin assisting members in their ongoing recovery efforts:
- NC Green Industry—Hurricane Recovery Facebook Page: A number of businesses have shared personal stories, along with some harrowing images, from the storm. In the coming weeks, this resource will be used to coordinate volunteer assistance/clean-up events at businesses that are need assistance. NCNLA also will share the latest news, including recovery and relief information from federal and state authorities, as it becomes available.
- Green Industry Damage and Loss Assessment Survey: In conjunction with North Carolina Cooperative Extension and the North Carolina Farm Bureau, NCNLA has developed the industry-specific “Damage and Loss Assessment Survey” to gauge the extent of damage to green industry businesses in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. This online survey is broken into four categories for wholesale nurseries, landscape firms and retail garden centers to report damage to crops, structures and facilities, stored materials and equipment. As the potential for additional aid may be considered given the severity of the storm, affected green industry businesses across North Carolina are encouraged to report damages.
- NCNLA Hurricane Recovery Resource Page: NCNLA will continue to update this information portal with available federal and state aid resources for affected businesses and individuals. The Hurricane Recovery Resource Page contains information about programs available to members as they begin to rebuild, including detailed information about eligibility for these programs as well as information for the appropriate entities to contact when requesting assistance.
“NCNLA stands ready to assist our industry in any way possible as we start out on the road to recovery,” Rollins said. “Please don’t hesitate to contact the staff at the NCNLA office so that they can direct resources to where they are needed.”
