Rep. Martha Roby (AL-2) took to the floor of the United States House of Representatives on Thursday to discuss the counties in southeast Alabama that were devastated by Hurricane Michael last month, especially recognizing the area’s agriculture community and encouraging those who still need recovery assistance to contact her offices.
Roby outlined how “Alabama’s Second District was badly impacted in several counties in the Wiregrass region” following Michael’s landfall.
“In fact, Hurricane Michael is the most powerful storm to ever hit Houston County according to recorded history,” she added.
For the congresswoman’s district, “agriculture is the backbone of our economy.”
“In my district, the agriculture community faces the most significant devastation. While the full scale of the damage to local agriculture is still being assessed, Hurricane Michael dealt a terrible blow to our cotton, timber and peanut farmers,” Roby said.
She continued, “In the aftermath of the storm, I have traveled to the Wiregrass several times to be with our farmers and to see firsthand what they are experiencing. The devastation is heartbreaking, to say the least. The farmers in Southeast Alabama are in the midst of a very real crisis.”
Excerpt from the rest of her speech as follows:
Throughout my time in Congress, I have made it a priority to fight for our farmers of all commodities.
Their work to provide the food and fiber we depend on is vitally important. I will continue to advocate for them, especially during this time of uncertainty as we work to put the pieces back together for these hardworking men and women who have suffered tremendous loss to their livelihoods.
Mr. Speaker, I want the people I represent to know that my offices stand ready to help during this challenging time. I will work with my colleagues here in Congress to provide the proper resources and assistance to our farmers. We must get this right, and we must ensure Alabama’s farmers are included in all recovery efforts.
I encourage anyone in Alabama’s Second District who needs assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael to contact one of my offices today.
My staff and I work for you, and we are committed to ensuring that the folks impacted know the options available to them.
As we work through this season of rebuilding, I have been encouraged to see and hear about so many acts of kindness and charity in our district and throughout the Southeast. This time of recovery will not be easy, but if we continue to help each other in whatever ways we are able, we will get through this together.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield back.
Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
