Key Resources:
- USDA Disaster Resource Center - provides information on how to prepare, recover and build long-term resilience during disasters and emergencies.
- USDA Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool - Learn about USDA disaster assistance programs that might be right for you by completing five simple steps.
- USDA Disaster Assistance Programs include:
- Tree Assistance Program (TAP), Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP), Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), and Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) help compensate producers for losses caused by natural disasters.
- Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) help producers with restoring fences, damaged farmland, or forests.
- Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program provides assistance to communities to address watershed impairments or hazards.
- Farm Service Agency - Disaster Assistance: USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers a variety of programs to help farmers, ranchers, communities, and businesses that have been hard hit by natural disaster events.
- Natural Resources Conservation Service - Disaster Recovery Assistance: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides disaster recovery assistance to farmers, ranchers, landowners and communities through a variety of USDA programs.
- Guide: USDA Disaster Assistance Programs Brochure - Learn more about USDA Farm Production & Conservation’s disaster assistance programs for farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners.
- Contacts:
- Laurie Funderburk, South Carolina FSA State Executive Director
- E: Laurie.Funderburk@usda.gov
- Odessa Armstrong, South Carolina NRCS State Conversationist (Acting)
- E: Odessa.Armstrong@usda.gov
For additional Disaster Assistance information and resources that span the full breadth of the Federal Government, we encourage you to visit FEMA.Gov
From Roland McReynolds, CFSA Executive Director:
>>> Running Resources for Helene Response & Relief
Important for Farmers
• Document the damage with timestamped photographs and video.
• List the repairs needed and any costs associated with these.
• When it is possible, contact your local USDA office to make a report.
From Dr. Dobbins, Clemson:
Clemson Extension/Public Service Activities is helping the state assess the impact of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Helene on South Carolina agricultural production. A website is available to share impacts and losses to the production of your animals and crops.
An app is also available for download to enter impact data from the field. The website is recommended for less tech savvy individuals while the app will allow input from the field or away from a computer or internet. Instructions, including a video, for downloading the app and a pdf copy of the form are available here.
This is a preliminary assessment and not an application for disaster aid.
Contact your local Farm Service Agency office for questions related to potential disaster assistance.
Contact Patricia Carbajales-Dale, the staff at the Clemson Center for Geospatial Technologies, Dr. Adam Kantrovich, or your local county Extension agent if you have any questions.