U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and David Perdue, R-Ga., continued their efforts to support Georgians recovering from Hurricane Michael with a direct appeal to Senate leadership urging support for disaster assistance for Georgia farmers and the state’s agriculture community.
 
In a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Isakson and Perdue requested that Congress provide supplemental disaster funding to help with recovery from billions in agricultural losses from Hurricanes Florence and Michael. Senators from other Southeastern states affected by the hurricanes also joined the letter.
 
The letter states, “We believe it is our duty as Members of Congress to step in and assist farmers and others who are in need. We ask that as leaders of the United States Senate you direct this body to work with the House of Representatives to include emergency appropriations for those states affected by Hurricanes Florence and Michael in the next appropriations bill the Senate considers.”
 
Hurricane Michael caused more than $2.5 billion in losses to Georgia’s agricultural industry alone. The combined losses from Hurricanes Florence and Michael cost other states additional billions in agriculture production and job losses.
 
“Cotton was ruined during a crucial harvest period, destroying what promised to be a historically high yield. Peanuts, sweet potatoes, and a multitude of other fruits and vegetables that were not yet harvested rotted in the soil. High winds leveled acres of timber stands and pecan trees and demolished poultry, pork, and cattle barns, killing and dispersing animals and livestock,” the letter continued.
 
Isakson and Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., led the letter, and the senators were joined by Perdue and Sens. Richard Burr, R-N.C., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Bill Nelson, D-Fla., Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., whose states were also affected by the September and October hurricanes.