Disasters are an inevitable part of farming. Good preparation and recordkeeping before a disaster can make the difference when a farm faces the recovery process afterwards.
Preparing Your Family & Business for Disasters
- ready.gov – official website of Department of Homeland Security
- ready.gov/hurricanes – tips on how to prepare
- FEMA – download the FEMA App for weather alerts
- DisasterAssistance.gov – help from FEMA with identifying available federal resources
- Small Business Administration
Preparing Your Farm for Disasters
National
- USDA Farm Service Agency: Disaster Assistance Programs
- Humane Society of the United States: Disaster preparedness for livestock
- Extension Disaster Education Network – disaster resources searchable by topic or state
- Farmer’s Legal Action Group – resources on disaster recovery and risk management
North Carolina
- North Carolina Department of Agriculture – storm preparedness
- NC Cooperative Extension – disaster preparation handbooks and checklists
Crop Insurance & Other Risk Management Programs
Many post-disaster recovery programs for farmers require farmers to have participated in crop insurance or NAP. Both crop insurance and NAP must be applied for before a disaster.
- USDA Risk Management Agency – crop insurance programs
- Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program – coverage for crops that are not covered by crop insurance programs
Organic & Small Farms
- Floods and Organic Producers: Steps to Recovery after a Natural Disaster – a booklet from the Farmer’s Legal Action Group
- Organic Farmers in Disasters – Flooding and Whole Farm Revenue Crop Insurance – resource from Farmer’s Legal Action Group
- Hurricane Preparedness for Producers of Horticultural Crops – from Debbie Roos, NC State Agricultural Extension
Contract Poultry Farms
- Mass Poultry Mortality Disposal Options – a resource page from RAFI-USA
- Risks and Disasters for Contract Producers (PDF) – a white paper from RAFI-USA