Natural disaster is a constant threat to America's farmers and ranchers and rural residents. USDA provides assistance for losses that result from drought, flood, fire, freeze, tornadoes, pest infestation, and other calamities.
Natural Disaster Assistance Programs and Resources
Emergency Food Assistance Program
USDA provides emergency food assistance to states that are in crisis. USDA purchases, processes, and packages the food, then ships it to the individual states.
Emergency Food Safety Information
Disasters can jeopardize the safety of food due to unfavorable conditions. USDA provides information on how to determine if food is safe and how to keep it safe in cases of emergency. This helps to minimize the risk of foodborne illness in emergency situations.
Federal Disaster Assistance Information
USDA helps to keep the public prepared when disaster strikes with safety alerts, preparedness lists, and disaster prevention information.
Food Aid Programs
USDA helps provide the U.S. agricultural commodities that feed millions of hungry people in needy countries through its direct donations and concession programs.
Emergency Loan Assistance
USDA provides emergency loans to help producers recover from losses due to natural disasters or quarantine.
Emergency Watershed Protection Program
The Emergency Watershed Protection program safeguards lives and property from floods, droughts, and the erosion on any watershed, when natural occurrences cause a sudden impairment of the watershed.
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program
The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters.
Crop Disaster Program Facts
USDA offers facts and information on crop disaster as a part of its Crop Disaster Assistance Program.
Crop Insurance Policies
USDA offers crop insurance policies as a risk management option for agricultural producers.
