Wildland fires
Fire always has been a part of American ecosystems. Learn more about current wildland fires and how you can protect your home.
Hurricane Relief Information
Information for those affected by hurricanes - food safety tips, food assistance, housing assistance and help for small businesses.
Food Assistance Information
USDA makes sure that people have enough to eat following a storm, earthquake, flood or other disaster emergency.
Disaster Assistance for Farmers and Ranchers
Get information about USDA assistance for natural disaster losses, resulting from drought, flood, fire, freeze, tornadoes, pest infestation, and other calamities.
Disaster and Drought Assistance for Farmers and Ranchers
Natural disaster is a constant threat to America's farmers and ranchers and rural residents. Learn how to get USDA assistance for losses that result from drought, flood, fire, freeze, tornadoes, pest infestation, and other calamities.
Avian Influenza Information
All you need to know about the complexities of avian influenza as a disease among birds, how you can protect your birds and how USDA is protecting the food supply.
H1N1 Influenza Information
Following the emergence of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza, USDA made it a priority to prepare for the possible spread of the virus in livestock. Learn more about the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus strain vs. swine influenza as a disease among pigs.
BP Gulf Oil Spill Response
Information about USDA community and environmental assistance to oil spill disaster.
Disaster Assistance
DisasterAssistance.gov is a secure, user-friendly web site that consolidates information about federally funded government assistance to disaster victims.
USDA and fifteen other federal agencies have partnered with FEMA to develop this web site to you identify forms of assistance that you may qualify for, making it easier and faster for you to find application information
Flood Response and Recovery
Information about Health and Safety, How to Find Family and Friends, How to Get Help, How to Donate and Volunteer, and Learn What Government Is Doing and much more.
In the News
USDA, Partner Agencies, to Participate in Series of Regional Meetings to Coordinate Long Term Drought Response
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2012—Recognizing that recovery from the drought that affected much of the farm belt will be a lengthy process, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the scheduling of four regional meetings which will outline available resources to assist with local, regional and state recovery efforts. USDA will coordinate with State and local partners, working closely with the Department of Commerce, the Small Business Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to facilitate these meetings.
USDA Expands Drought Assistance to 22 States
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2012—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced $11.8 million in additional financial and technical assistance to help crop and livestock producers in 22 states apply conservation practices that reduce the impacts of drought and improve soil health and productivity. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides this assistance through its Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
Livestock Producers Affected by Disasters Urged to Keep Good Records
WASHINGTON, August 29, 2012 — USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Juan M. Garcia today urged livestock producers affected by natural disasters such as Hurricane Isaac to keep thorough records of their livestock and feed losses, including additional expenses for such things as feed purchases because of lost supplies.
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Extends Emergency Grazing to Assist Ranchers Impacted by Drought
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 2012-As the Obama Administration continues to support farmers and businesses impacted by the drought, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a two-month extension for emergency grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres, freeing up forage and feed for ranchers as they look to recover from this challenging time.
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces New Help for Livestock Producers with Changes to Emergency Loans, Crop Insurance
WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2012—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today made a series of announcements that continue to underscore the Obama Administration’s ongoing work to help farmers, ranchers and businesses impacted by the most severe drought in 50 years. The Secretary said the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) intends to file special provisions with the federal crop insurance program to allow haying or grazing of cover crops without impacting the insurability of planted 2013 spring crops, a move that can help provide much needed forage and feed this fall and winter for livestock producers. In a separate step, Vilsack will modify emergency loans, allowing loans to be made earlier in the season helping livestock producers to offset increased feed costs and those who have liquidated herds.
USDA Announces Low-Interest Emergency Loans Now Available to Producers in 172 Additional Counties due to Drought
WASHINGTON, Aug. 15, 2012—As part of continuing steps by the Obama Administration to get assistance to producers impacted by the drought, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today designated 172 additional counties in 15 states as primary natural disaster areas due to drought and heat, making all qualified farm operators in the areas eligible for low-interest emergency loans. To date, USDA has designated 1,792 counties as disaster areas—1,670 due to drought.
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, Obama Administration Deliver New Drought Assistance to America's Producers
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2012—As part of continuing steps by the Obama Administration to assist livestock producers in response to the historic drought, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today highlighted that USDA will utilize nearly $16 million in financial and technical assistance to immediately help crop and livestock producers in 19 states cope with the adverse impacts of the historic drought. In addition, USDA will initiate a transfer of $14 million in unobligated program funds into the Emergency Conservation Program. These funds can be used to assist in moving water to livestock in need, providing emergency forage for livestock, and rehabilitating lands severely impacted by the drought. Together these efforts should provide nearly $30 million to producers struggling with drought conditions.
Update July 4, 2012: Federal Partners Continue to Support Response Efforts Combating Western Wildfires
WASHINGTON, July 4, 2012 -The U.S. Forest Service, Department of the Interior, Department of Defense and FEMA continue to support efforts to protect life, public safety and aid in community recovery from wildfires in multiple Western states. Last Friday, President Obama approved a disaster declaration for Colorado providing additional support to state and local officials responding to the fires, as well as federal assistance for individuals affected by the High Park and Waldo Canyon Fires. Yesterday, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano visited Colorado and Idaho to survey ongoing wildfire response efforts on the ground, thank heroic first responders battling the fires, meet with state and local officials and underscore the Administration's support for impacted communities.
