USDA HELPS UPPER-MIDWEST FLOOD VICTIMS Release No. 0129.97 Tom Amontree (202) 720-4623 tom.amontree@usda.gov Johna Pierce (202) 720-4623 johna.pierce@usda.gov USDA HELPS UPPER-MIDWEST FLOOD VICTIMS GRAND FORKS, ND, April 22, 1997--On a tour of flood-ravaged areas with President Clinton today, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman talked to USDA staff on-site who are assisting Federal, State, and local authorities and non-profit disaster relief agencies in providing assistance to victims of flooding in North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota. "Talking with families who lost everything and seeing the devastation up close gives me a true appreciation of the magnitude of this tragic event," said Glickman. "USDA stands ready to help in any way possible." When a natural disaster like this strikes, USDA is among the first Federal agencies on the scene. Whether providing emergency food assistance to those forced from their homes, providing logistical and transportation support to FEMA, or providing low-cost loans to replace farm buildings, USDA is there, helping disaster victims recover. Although the public focuses on the ravages of a disaster as it occurs, major ramifications from disasters often take weeks or months to become defined and many different kinds of assistance -- immediate as well as long-term -- will be available. EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE USDA's Food and Consumer Service is working closely with cooperating state agencies in North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota and with voluntary relief agencies to ensure that the food assistance needs of disaster victims are being met. USDA commodities are already on-hand in the affected areas and are available to provide meals for those in need at shelters. "One of USDA's top priorities is always to ensure that no one goes hungry as a result of a natural disaster," Glickman said. "Local governments can begin providing USDA food to victims almost immediately after a disaster. They have USDA food stocks on hand, and they can begin using that food right away to help people." In North Dakota, 38,000 pounds of USDA commodities -- including fruits, vegetables, meat, and juices -- have been provided for meal service sites, with the Salvation Army's three fixed meal service sites and nine mobile canteens actively providing meals to disaster victims. USDA has given the State authority to release USDA foods to disaster relief agencies and have informed local school officials that National School Lunch Program inventories may be provided upon request. USDA has approved a request from North Dakota to operate an emergency food stamp program in eight counties beginning on April 21. The State has indicated that requests for emergency food stamps for additional counties likely will be forthcoming once damage assessments are completed. In Minnesota, over 40,000 pounds of USDA commodities, valued at nearly $45,000, have been provided to the Salvation Army for congregate meal service. Six Minnesota counties are currently or will soon begin operating emergency food stamp programs, with that number expected to increase when the program is requested and approved for the northern counties in the Red River basin. In the three counties in which the program is operating, 32 households have received $10,347 in benefits to date. South Dakota has not submitted a request for an emergency food stamp program and has not used any commodities, but that status is expected to change. AGRICULTURAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE USDA is taking immediate action where possible to assist farmers and ranchers affected by flooding in the upper Midwest. Wherever applicable, programs such as the Noninsured Assistance Program, the Conservation Reserve Program, farm operating loans, and the Disaster Reserve Assistance Program are being evaluated to determine if they can help producers in the affected states. The Risk Management Agency reports that over 90 percent of eligible farm land in North and South Dakota is covered by Federal Crop Insurance, and about 75 percent of the insurance is at an increased level. The Natural Resources Conservation Service is assisting the Army Corps of Engineers with engineering surveys of temporary levees. NRCS has also obligated about $200,000 for removal of debris from streams. USDA has made its employees and vehicles available for emergency recovery needs. In addition, USDA is utilizing the following programs to provide long-term assistance to producers suffering adverse impacts from this natural disaster: Emergency Farm Loans: In counties declared by the President or designated by the Secretary as disaster areas, USDA's Farm Service Agency can make low-interest loans to eligible family farmers to help them recover from the loss of production or physical losses. Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program: NAP applies to crops for which federal crop insurance is currently unavailable. Eligible commodities include commercially-produced crops grown for food or fiber and the following specified crops: floricultural, ornamental nursery, and Christmas tree crops; turfgrass sod; industrial crops; and aquacultural species. To be eligible for NAP protection, farmers must have reported their acreage to their local FSA office shortly after planting. Emergency Conservation Program: Pays producers to restore their land to its productive capacity by providing funds to remove debris, restore conservation structures, and rebuild fences. RURAL DEVELOPMENT DISASTER ASSISTANCE USDA Rural Development can provide the following assistance to eligible individuals, businesses, and communities: Borrowers who have homes financed by USDA that have been affected by a natural disaster may request to have their mortgage payments suspended temporarily; Eligible borrowers living in communities declared Presidential Disaster Areas may apply for low-interest housing loans under the Single Family Housing Program; Communities with populations of 50,000 or less that have had community facilities destroyed or damaged by disasters may apply for assistance under the Community Facilities Program; Rural communities that have damaged water or waste water systems by disasters may apply for assistance from the Rural Utilities Service under the Emergency Community Water Assistance Program; and Rural Utilities Service can advance electric cooperatives funds during emergencies from already approved loans so that electricity can be restored quickly. Businesses that have been damaged or destroyed may apply for assistance under the Rural Business Cooperative Service. OTHER ASSISTANCE Extension agents in the area are prepared to offer homeowners advice on food safety, how to purify drinking water, and how to clean and repair damage to housing caused by flooding. USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline is available for advice from 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (1-800-535-4555) to assist consumers with questions on the proper handling and storage of meat, poultry, and food products. # 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