USDA's authority to provide emergency assistance for its various disaster relief programs exists under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief, Emergency Assistance Act of 1987, Agriculture Secretary disaster declarations, Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as well as other authorizing legislation.
USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) provides food assistance to those in need in areas affected by a disaster. This Federal assistance is in addition to that provided by State and local governments.
USDA provides:
USDA Foods to State agencies for distribution to shelters and other mass feeding sites; USDA Foods to State agencies for distribution directly to households in need in certain limited situations; Authorizes State agencies to issue Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits.
USDA's Farm Service Agency provides assistance for natural disaster losses, resulting from drought, flood, fire, freeze, tornadoes, pest infestation, and other calamities.
USDA's Rural Development offers Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants which are designed for rural communities with a significant decline in quantity or quality of drinking water. The population must not exceed 10,000 and median household incomes of 100 percent of a State's non-metropolitan median household income. Grants may be made for 100 percent of project costs. The maximum grant is $500,000 when a significant decline in quantity, imminent source shortage or quality of water occurred within 2 years, or $75,000 to make emergency repairs and replacement of facilities on existing systems. To apply, community leaders should contact Utilities Program Specialists in their State Office
Ask Karen can answer inquiries from the public about the prevention of foodborne illness, as well as the safe handling, preparation, and storage of meat, poultry, and egg products, from an extensive database of food safety information.
