Tom Vilsack Secretary of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Official Website
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assist recovery efforts for farmers, ranchers, and residents affected by Hurricane Debby, which continues its track up the East Coast. USDA staff across the country are prepared to respond with various program flexibilities and other assistance to producers and communities in need.
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is providing guidance to help affected residents reduce their risk of foodborne illness as they return home after severe weather and flooding. FSIS recommends keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed during power outages to maintain safe temperatures for food storage. Perishable items should be discarded if they exceed recommended timeframes without proper refrigeration.
Residents are advised to drink only bottled water that has not been in contact with flood water. If bottled water is unavailable, FSIS provides guidelines on safely boiling or disinfecting water on its Consumer's Guide to Food Safety: Severe Storms and Hurricanes webpage. Additionally, any food or beverage not in a waterproof container should be discarded if it may have come into contact with flood water.
For further questions about food safety, individuals can call the Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854, email MPHotline@usda.gov, or use live chat at Ask USDA.
The USDA offers several risk management and disaster assistance options for agricultural operations. These include tools like the Federal Crop Insurance Program and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), available through local Farm Service Agency offices. Producers should report crop damage within 72 hours of discovery and follow up in writing within 15 days.
Key programs offered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency include the Livestock Indemnity Program, Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybee and Farm-raised Fish Program, Tree Assistance Program, Emergency Conservation Program, and Emergency Forest Restoration Program.
Producers are encouraged to keep accurate records of damage or loss and report them to their local USDA Service Center promptly. The Natural Resources Conservation Service also offers financial resources through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program for immediate needs and long-term support.
On farmers.gov, tools such as the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster-at-a-Glance fact sheet (PDF), and Farm Loan Discovery Tool help producers determine program or loan options. For crop insurance claims, producers should contact their insurance agent; for FSA and NRCS programs, they should reach out to their local USDA Service Center.
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service is prepared to collaborate with FEMA and state authorities to provide emergency nutrition assistance where needed. Additionally, USDA Rural Development offers programs to help rural communities repair homes, businesses, infrastructure, and more following natural disasters.
To learn more about USDA's support services under the Biden-Harris Administration's initiatives focused on resilient food production systems, equitable markets, access to nutritious food, climate-smart practices, infrastructure investments in rural America, visit www.usda.gov.
