Florida's 3rd Congressional District suffered “astronomical” damage to the agricultural industry, Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) said this week on how the region was affected by Hurricane Helen. Speaking to Fox News Digital while discussing the incident, he noted that the destruction was “like a bomb that disappeared.” ”
“Along with the major residential and commercial damage that people are used to seeing from these storms, you can't imagine the magnitude of the damage to inland agriculture and coastal aquaculture,” Cammack said. .
Hurricane Milton hit Florida in October hurricane helen It condemned the state in September.
Mr. Cammack noted that Mr. Herren had caused more damage to his district than Mr. Milton.
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Photos of the aftermath of Hurricane Helen were provided to Fox News Digital by the office of Congresswoman Kat Cammack. (Office of Representative Kat Cammack)
“In Alachua County, Columbia County and all the way down to the Florida-Georgia line, so many buildings were destroyed and there was so much wind damage that it looked like a bomb had gone off,” Cammack said. said.
She praised Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, calling his leadership “unparalleled” and calling him “a rock star when it comes to emergency response and dealing with these storms with a calm approach.” He praised it.
“Politics has no place in how Governor DeSantis handles these storms,” she said. “Where we really run into problems, of course, is at the federal level.”
“The Department of Agriculture has been completely non-existent in terms of the aid and support it has provided to agricultural producers,” the lawmaker said. “The fact that agriculture is suffering so much and there is little to no assistance from the Department of Agriculture is terrible,” she said. She added, “The SBA has gotten a little better.”
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Photos of the aftermath of Hurricane Helen were provided to Fox News Digital by the office of Congresswoman Kat Cammack. (Office of Representative Kat Cammack)
A USDA spokesperson said in a statement to FOX News Digital that Cammack's claims are false.
“Unfortunately, the MP's claims could not be further from the truth,” the spokesperson said. “It is unconscionable to make knowingly false and politically motivated claims at a time of need. Misinformation only makes it harder to help people, and it makes it more difficult for farmers to access the recovery assistance that USDA can provide.” This is because it may prevent you from pursuing your goals.
“Working closely with FEMA and other federal agencies, USDA is a partner in the intensive whole-of-government response underway in the wake of Hurricanes Milton and Helen,” the statement continued. “This week, we announced initial compensation payments to producers under hurricane and tropical storm crop insurance, including farmers in Florida, to help their businesses and communities recover. You can also choose from a number of disaster-affected crops and livestock programs designed for damaged farmland at USDA offices or online. As farmers submit more applications, more and more USDA staff will continue to live and work in nearly every county. Our staff has been working to provide farmers with every resource we can provide.
“These efforts are just one part of USDA’s broader response, which includes helping rural communities restore critical infrastructure like water and power and expanding SNAP access to help people get back on their feet. This includes cost reductions,” the spokesperson said. concluded. “While we know some members of Congress would like to see block grants to states, the reality is that the authority to fund and authorize block grants lies with Congress, not the Department of Agriculture, so Cammack Members of Congress should consider appealing to their fellow members.”
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Congresswoman Cat Cammack speaks on FOX News Digital about the impact of Hurricanes Helen and Milton. (Fox News Digital)
But Cammack fired back at the federal agency.
“During the past five storms, Florida growers have repeatedly asked, by phone and letter, for USDA strike teams to assist growers with their disaster recovery programs. The Florida Department of Agriculture, which has nearly 100,000 employees, has not brought in any additional personnel, although the agency has provided “virtual jump teams” to assist producers, many of whom lack broadband access. There are not enough people living in enough communities to have access to this type of assistance,” she said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“Furthermore,” the congressman added, “in the aftermath of the storm, more than 200 farmers and ranchers came together to give me feedback on USDA's post-storm response. Not one person received assistance from USDA. There was no one there,” he added.
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“Instead of recognizing legitimate concerns from citizens who petition the government, this administration has engaged in a pattern of accusing them of spreading ‘misinformation’ when their claims do not support their policies.” That's unfortunate. As a member of Congress, it's my duty to take my constituents' concerns directly to the government, whether it's USDA or any other federal agency, whether it's convenient for them or not. No matter what, we will never hesitate to urge a stagnant federal bureaucracy to help our constituents,” Cammack continued.
“The Department of Agriculture should prioritize being responsive and responsive to grower concerns over maintaining its public image. Fox News was able to get responses from the Department before voters under the current administration. “It's very interesting,” she concluded.
Cammack has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2021 and is currently seeking re-election.
