Disaster declarations

October 15, 2009 -- Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson sent a letter today to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack asking that he declare Rice, Sherman and Cheyenne counties agricultural disaster areas for crop production and structural losses due to severe weather between July 17 and September 23.

The severe weather included high winds and hail that adversely impacted corn, soybean, sorghum and sunflower production, and damaged farm structures, fences and equipment.

A secretarial disaster designation will make farmers eligible for low-interest loans through USDA’s Farm Service Agency, as well as any other aid that may be available through the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program approved in the 2008 farm bill.

Source: Kansas Governor

15 Additional Counties Qualify for Aid as Contiguous Disaster Counties

Washington, DC October 15, 2009- Today, Secretary of United States Department of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that sufficient production losses in ten counties in South Dakota warrant a Secretarial natural disaster designation. In addition, 15 counties in South Dakota were named as contiguous disaster areas.

Rep. Herseth Sandlin recently hosted Secretary Vilsack to discuss the extensive flood damage in South Dakota and hold a town hall meeting with farmers and ranchers. During the forum, representatives of farming and ranching organizations along with area producers had the opportunity to ask questions of Rep. Herseth Sandlin and Secretary Vilsack.    » read more »

Six Minnesota counties eligible for funding

Washington, D.C. [Oct 8, 2009] – U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-Minn.) sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in September, urging him to quickly approve a request made by Gov. Pawlenty to designate six Minnesota counties federal agriculture disaster areas.

In response the U.S. Department of Agriculture designated Kittson, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Pennington and Roseau as agricultural disaster areas. Benefits are also available for the contiguous counties of Beltrami, Clearwater, Itasca, Polk, Red Lake and St. Louis .    » read more »

Declaration Makes Assistance Available for Farmers in All 10 NH Counties

September 14, 2009 -- CONCORD - New Hampshire Governor John Lynch today announced the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has declared a disaster designation for all 10 New Hampshire counties due to losses suffered by local farmers caused by heavy rains this summer. With the declaration, New Hampshire farmers will be able to access federal assistance, including emergency loans.

Gov. Lynch requested the disaster declaration in a letter he sent to Secretary Vilsack last month    » read more »

September 1, 2009 -- Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama's major disaster declaration issued for New York.

Assistance for the State and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

* Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)    » read more »

September 1, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for New York and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding during the period of August 8-10, 2009.

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said the president's action makes federal funding available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and flooding in Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Erie Counties.    » read more »

August 31, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver announced this afternoon that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has declared 22 Iowa counties as disaster areas. On August 12, Governor Culver wrote Secretary Vilsack requesting a Secretarial Disaster Designation following damage to plants and significant production losses due to severe storms between May 15 and July 31, 2009.    » read more »

Federal Fisheries Disaster for Yukon Chinook

August 7, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sean Parnell today sought to secure federal disaster relief for Yukon River residents. Parnell urged the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to declare a fishery disaster due to poor returns of chinook salmon on the Yukon River.

“I trust Secretary Locke will recognize the severity of the situation on the Yukon and declare a fishery disaster,” Governor Parnell said. “I look forward to working with federal agencies and Alaska’s congressional delegation to secure disaster relief assistance for this region.”    » read more »

Issues Executive Order to Provide Assistance

06/19/2009 -- Showing that government still works for the people, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today requested a federal disaster declaration from President Obama for Fresno County and issued Executive Order S-11-09, activating the California Disaster Assistance Act.

By taking this action, the state will be able to provide temporary supplemental assistance to the local governments and non-profit organizations that supply food and other aid to those who are impacted by the drought statewide. The order also waives the one-week waiting period for unemployment insurance.    » read more »

June 17, 2009 -- LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe received word Tuesday evening that President Obama has granted his request for a major disaster declaration to help Arkansas counties recovering from flooding rains and storms in May.

The federal declaration covers all 37 counties requested by Governor Beebe two weeks ago: Arkansas, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Clark, Cleveland, Conway, Dallas, Drew, Fulton, Grant, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Lincoln, Little River, Marion, Miller, Monroe, Nevada, Ouachita, Perry, Phillips, Pike, Poinsett, Polk, Prairie, St. Francis, Saline, Searcy, Stone, and Union Counties.    » read more »

June 3, 2009 -- The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Alabama and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, and straight-line winds during the period of May 6-8, 2009.

Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, and straight-line winds in the counties of Autauga, Bullock, Elmore, and Montgomery.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.    » read more »

Jun 2, 2009 -- LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe has sent a letter to President Obama requesting a major disaster declaration for 37 Arkansas counties impacted by storms and flooding throughout the month of May. The letter includes requests for Arkansas, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Clark, Cleveland, Conway, Dallas, Drew, Fulton, Grant, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Lincoln, Little River, Marion, Miller, Monroe, Nevada, Ouachita, Perry, Phillips, Pike, Poinsett, Polk, Prairie, Saint Francis, Saline, Searcy, Stone, and Union Counties.    » read more »

May 28, 2009 -- JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri Governor Jay Nixon today sent President Barack Obama a request for additional federal assistance for infrastructure damage in 46 counties impacted by the severe weather and storms from May 8 to May 16. This is in addition to Gov. Nixon's previous request for a disaster declaration from the federal government.

Damages to public property and infrastructure exceeded $48.7 million in the 46 counties canvassed by the federal/state/local joint damage assessment teams. This amount also includes damages to the public utilities and electric cooperatives, estimated at more than $37 million. Power was finally restored to all citizens over Memorial Day weekend, Gov. Nixon said.    » read more »

Individual Assistance In 4 Counties

May 29, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear late today announced that President Obama had granted his request for pubic disaster assistance for 22 counties rocked earlier this month by massive storms and flooding.

In addition, the President approved four counties for individual assistance.

“We are pleased that President Obama has issued this disaster declaration and look forward to quickly receiving the assistance people are entitled to in Kentucky,” Gov. Beshear said. “We have been working day and night with the federal government to get this declaration issued and now look forward to ensuring that the assistance is forthcoming as so many of our people work to rebuild their lives and their homes.    » read more »

Additional areas can be added as damage assessments continue

May 27, 2009 -- CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has declared three additional southern West Virginia counties eligible for disaster aid following extensive flooding earlier this month.

McDowell and Raleigh Counties have been added for individual assistance and public assistance, and Mercer County for public assistance. Gov. Manchin this past weekend had requested the additional counties be added to the existing declaration for Mingo and Wyoming counties.    » read more »