(RALEIGH) -- Former Congressman Bob Etheridge is now acting as a special advisor for Hurricane Irene relief recovery. Etheridge said the storm may put some farmers out of business permanently.

"I talk with farmers over the last few weeks, one who said he's probably going to lose a million dollars this year because of the storm.  The storm hit at the height of the harvest season and the damage was extensive," said Etheridge.

Agriculture still accounts for at least 23-percent of the North Carolina economy and Etheridge said another North Carolina farmer he talked to has resorted to selling off some of his assets just to stay in business. "What he said was, I've quit worrying about profit as much as I use to, it's about cash flow. He said my cash flow is down and I'm going to have to have cash flow to get through to next year to borrow money and that's the governor wants to, we're going to have to be working with Congress on trying to get some money to help these folks, because if we don't help them now, they go out of business."

Etheridge said at least 23-percent of North Carolina's economy is tied to agriculture.