DISASTER ASSISTANCE Release No. 0081.97 Johna Pierce (202) 720-4623 Wayne Baggett (202) 720-2032 USDA PROVIDES DISASTER ASSISTANCE TO STRICKEN AREAS OF THE U.S. WASHINGTON--March 13, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today said that USDA has people on the ground helping rural and urban victims of natural disasters as they try to recover from the effects of recent tornadoes and floods. "USDA programs benefit and support every American every day," Glickman said. "When a natural disaster strikes, USDA is one of the first to help those in distress -- with assistance ranging from emergency food stamps for people cut off from home and jobs, to emergency funds to protect urban water supplies, to low-cost loans to replace farm buildings and equipment." In Arkansas, USDA officials report little damage to crops and indicate readiness to provide emergency loan assistance for production and physical losses. Rural housing loan payments have been put on hold for 180 days for borrowers who are victims of the recent tornadoes. Emergency Conservation Program funds will be used to remove debris from a watershed near Arkadelphia, so that water drainage will not be hampered. USDA has approved Arkansas to operate an emergency food stamp program in 14 counties affected by the recent severe storms and tornadoes. Since the program began operating on Saturday, March 8, 1,366 disaster victims from 493 households have received a total of $133,439 in food stamp benefits, or an average of $271 in benefits for each household. Ohio today received approval to begin operating an emergency food stamp program from Monday, March 17 to Friday, March 21. Damage assessments to farms will be completed as soon as the water recedes. USDA officials anticipate the need for Emergency Conservation Program funds to repair damage to farms by erosion, and to remove debris and silt. Many agricultural buildings that are used to house equipment, feed, stored grain, and supplies have been destroyed. Barge-loading and grain-handling facilities along the Ohio River are damaged and are inoperable. Some dairy farmers have had to dump milk because trucks can not reach their farms to haul the milk to processors. Payments of rural loans are on hold in Ohio also for flood victims. Four shelters are still open and the Salvation Army requested and received a three-day supply of USDA commodities for congregate meal services in Adam county. In Kentucky, preliminary reports indicate heavy damage to the winter wheat crop in north-central part of the state. Isolated tornadoes and high winds have damaged farm buildings and farm houses, and some counties report that 50 percent of cropland has suffered some damage. Producers with losses will be eligible for emergency loan assistance. Rural housing loan payments are also on hold for 180 days for borrowers who are victims of the severe weather. In North and South Dakota, melting snow is making ranch land inaccessible. In Texas, USDA is reviewing the potential for water shortages in the Lower Rio Grande Valley to determine what impact water shortages will have on agricultural production. USDA's Food and Consumer Service is working closely with cooperating state agencies in Arkansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and West Virginia, and with voluntary relief agencies to ensure that the food assistance needs of disaster victims are being met and fully expects to receive requests to operate emergency food stamp program in other states. USDA commodities are already on-hand in the affected areas and are available to provide congregate food service at shelters for those in need. To date, nearly 100,000 pounds of USDA commodities -- including fruits, vegetables, meat, and juices -- have been provided to disaster relief agencies and are being used to feed displaced residents. "Producers can do a lot to protect themselves, too," Glickman said. "Every farmer and rancher needs to carefully consider purchasing crop insurance to limit their liabilities." Since wet conditions may delay or prohibit timely planting for some producers, they should make a point to discuss applicable policy provisions with their insurance provider. For instance, if producers want to increase their maximum eligible prevented planting acres, they must request the increase on or before the sales closing date, which is March 15 in many counties. "The Department of Agriculture stands ready, along with other federal agencies, to respond to those in need," Glickman said. "I hope that every eligible citizen will seek out our services to help get through these devastating times. We have a long and successful track record of reaching out to those in need and helping them get back on their feet after natural disasters." The following programs are available from USDA. For more information, contact your Extension Office or the appropriate local Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources and Conservation Service, Rural Development Office, or consult USDA's Internet home page at WWW@USDA.GOV. Food Stamps and Emergency Food Programs, Food and Consumer Services. Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555 for food storage and handling, Food Safety and Inspection Service. Food Safety Information, Food Safety and Inspection Service. Emergency Loan Assistance for producers who suffer production and physical losses, Farm Services Agency. Disaster Reserve Assistance for feed grain, forage, and grazing losses Farm Services Agency. Emergency Conservation Program for rehabilitating damaged farmland, Farm Services Agency. Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance for noninsurable crops, Farm Services Agency. Watershed protection, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Emergency Community Water Assistance Program, Rural Utilities Service. Rural Utilities Service programs to restore electricity, Rural Utilities Service. Rural Housing Disaster Assistance Program for single-family housing repair loans and grants during disasters, Rural Housing Service. # NOTE: USDA news releases and media advisories are available on the Internet. Access the USDA Home Page on the World Wide Web at http://www.usda.gov