USDA Designates Two North Carolina Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

Release No. 0008.19

Dana Rogge
573-876-0934
dana.rogge@mo.usda.gov

Emergency Support to Producers in Surrounding Counties/Border State Also Available

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2019 — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated two North Carolina counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers who suffered losses caused by Hurricane Michael and other recent disaster events may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans. 

These natural disaster area designations allow FSA to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation or the refinance of certain debts. 

Excessive Rain and Flooding

Producers who suffered losses caused by excessive rain and flooding that occurred May 15 through Dec. 31, 2018, in Henderson County are eligible to apply for emergency loans. 

Producers in the contiguous North Carolina counties of Buncombe, Haywood, Polk, Rutherford, and Transylvania, along with Greenville County, South Carolina, are also eligible to apply for emergency loans. 

Excessive Rain, Flooding and Winds from Hurricane Michael

Producers who suffered losses caused by excessive rain, flooding and winds from Hurricane Michael that occurred between Oct. 10 through Oct. 17, 2018, in Wilkes County are eligible to apply for emergency loans. 

Producers in the contiguous North Carolina counties of Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Caldwell, Iredell, Surry, Watauga and Yadkin are also eligible to apply for emergency loans. 

The deadline to apply for these emergency loans is Oct. 15, 2019. 

FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. 

FSA has a variety of additional programs to help farmers recover from the impacts of this disaster. FSA programs that do not require a disaster declaration include: Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program; Emergency Conservation Program; Livestock Forage Disaster Program; Livestock Indemnity Program; Operating and Farm Ownership Loans; and the Tree Assistance Program.

Farmers may contact their local USDA service center for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at farmers.gov/recover.