While emergency organizations are still calculating the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, it’s already clear that local bee populations—and the commercial beekeepers whose small businesses and livelihoods depend on them—have been devastated.
Beyond the tens of thousands of beehives that were destroyed by wind, rain, and flooding, this essential pollinator’s food sources have been decimated. Whether it was the high winds that blew flowers off trees or the mud that now coats bees’ wild forage, the nectar and pollen they rely on for survival are gone.
Coordinating efforts to provide immediate relief
Regrowth of forage takes months, and the bees need food today, so our teams are on the ground in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, working with commercial and state partners to coordinate a multi-state response.
We know from our work supporting bees after Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, Michael, and Ian that if we can get food to the bees today—by bringing in emergency syrup and bee pollen substitute—we can stave off devastating damage to our nation’s food system in the coming months and years.
The wider impact on the U.S. food system
This issue extends beyond the Southern states directly hit by Helene. Bees from these regions play a vital role in pollinating crops across the U.S., such as citrus in Florida, almonds in California, alfalfa (for livestock) in Montana, and fruits like cherries, apples, and peaches in the Midwest. Bees contribute to the pollination of one in every three bites of food in the country. Now, however, they are facing starvation, which could weaken or eradicate thousands of colonies. Additionally, a lack of food forces bees to exert more effort in finding sustenance, which increases stress and makes them more susceptible to diseases and pests.
A threat to small businesses
The financial impact on beekeepers—small business owners who rely on bee colonies for their income—is severe. Losing colonies can devastate these businesses, making it hard to recover from the disaster. While Greater Good Charities is providing broader humanitarian aid and pet supplies across affected communities, the urgency to support the bees remains a priority, which is why we are coordinating this multi-agency, multi-state response right now.
Mobilizing support through partnerships
Thanks to the generosity of our partners at Mann Lake, the largest beekeeping supplier and manufacturer in the country, we established a command center at their warehouse in Winter Haven, Florida. Together we are organizing the distribution of bee pollen substitute and syrup to beekeepers.
Understanding the total impact of Hurricane Helene on the bees and beekeepers will take time. At this point, we know that at least 95,000 hives, representing nearly two billion bees, have been destroyed—crushed by falling trees or washed away by flooding. But that number—and the resulting need—will continue to grow since storm damage has kept many beekeepers from even checking on their hives. We are working to speed up that process as well, with donations of chainsaws and generators to help beekeepers clear through debris and access their colonies.
Recovering from Hurricane Helene will be a serious challenge for our bees and the beekeepers who care for them. These tiny pollinators are vital to our food system, and their survival impacts the food supply across the country.
Greater Good Charities and our partners are leading this effort across the Southeast but we need your support. Providing emergency food for bees or equipment for beekeepers can help curb a deeper crisis and establish a hopeful path forward for this vital element of our ecosystem.
