Disaster Information for Farms and Agribusinesses
Disasters. You can't predict when a tornado, hurricane, hazmat or other emergency will strike your business. But you can be prepared and have a plan in case something does happen. Farms, ranches, food warehouses, pesticide dealers and more all have different needs, but the planning basics are the same. Click around. Use the preparedness tools, and in case of a disaster, come back and find the links for assistance.
The Agriculture Emergency Hotline number is 1-866-645-9403 and is operated from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Recent Updates:
Hurricane/Tropical Storm Helene:
(Updated 10/16/2024)
NCDA&CS offers cleanup and disposal assistance for pesticides
RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services urges farmers and homeowners to evaluate pesticides and other chemical storage areas when cleaning up from Hurricane Helene.
“If your pesticide or fertilizer storage area was underwater because of flooding or if there was structural damage due to high winds or tornadoes, materials could be damaged, leaked or spilled,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “There are ways to safely handle and remove these chemicals. Do not mix chemicals when cleaning up due to potential reactions. A good rule of thumb is to keep solids separate from liquids and keep unlike chemicals separate.”
Homeowners should review termite treatment agreements if flooding caused substantial damage
RALEIGH – Hurricane Helene not only flooded many areas, knocked out power and destroyed the possessions of thousands of homeowners and businesses in North Carolina, it may have washed away household termite protection as well, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said today.
Full release here
Updated 10/3/2024)
SBA Launches Disaster Assistance for North Carolina Residents and Businesses Impacted by Tropical Storm Helene
WASHINGTON – Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to businesses and residents in North Carolina following the announcement of a Presidential disaster declaration for Tropical Storm Helene that began on Sept. 25.
(Updated 10/2/2024)
IRS granting dyed diesel penalty relief as a result of Hurricane Helene
WASHINGTON — In response to disruptions resulting from Hurricane Helene, the Internal Revenue Service will not impose a penalty when dyed diesel fuel with a sulfur content that does not exceed 15 parts-per-million is sold for use or used on the highway throughout Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina and in the following counties in Florida, Tennessee and Virginia:
Florida: Alachua, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Okaloosa, Pasco, Pinellas, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Wakulla, Walton and Washington counties.
Tennessee: Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties.
Virginia: City of Galax, Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wythe counties.
This relief is retroactive to Sept. 26, 2024, and will remain in effect through Oct. 15, 2024.
This penalty relief is available to any person that sells or uses dyed diesel fuel for highway use. In the case of the operator of the vehicle in which the dyed diesel fuel is used, the relief is available only if the operator or the person selling such fuel pays the tax of 24.4 cents per gallon that is normally applied to diesel fuel for highway use.
The IRS will not impose penalties for failure to make semimonthly deposits of tax for dyed diesel fuel sold for use or used in diesel powered vehicles on the highway in these areas during the relief period. IRS Publication 510, Excise Taxes, has information on the proper method for reporting and paying the tax.
Ordinarily, dyed diesel fuel is not taxed, because it is sold for uses exempt from excise tax, such as to farmers for farming purposes, for home heating use and to local governments.
The IRS is closely monitoring the situation and will provide additional relief as needed.
(Updated 10/1/24) Animal shelters and boarding facilities: Around 200 shelters and boarding kennels are licensed by the NCDA&CS Animal Welfare Section in the counties impacted by Hurricane Helene. Our staff is currently in contact with 95 percent of them and continuously monitor their needs. All registered shelters in impacted area have been in contact with the Animal Welfare Section staff.
The ASPCA and BISSELL Pet Foundation are working to relocate adoptable animals to other rescues and shelters in state and out of state. This relocation will allow shelters to have room for the expected influx of strays and owned pets that will need a place to stay. Additionally, county emergency management is utilizing CAMETs (Companion Animal Mobile Equipment Shelter) at shelters to help those that have been forced to leave their homes house pets.
Monetary donations can be given through ASPCA and BISSELL Pet Foundation. The ASPCA is currently looking for space for a distribution center that will accept donations. They are looking for a spot that is located near the impacted area. Information on how to donate supplies for this facility to help pets in need in Western North Carolina will be coming in a few days.
BISSELL Pet Foundation - https://www.bissellpetfoundation.org/
ASPCA - https://www.aspca.org/
All of these pets are from Asheville Humane Society. They were in the shelter and available for adoption prior to the storm. BISSELL Pet Foundation provided air transport to get them to Winston-Salem where they went to Forsyth Humane Society, SPCA of Wake County, Humane Society of Charlotte, and a few other shelters in North Carolina.
(Update 9/29/24) North Carolina’s agriculture community is strong and resilient and always willing to step up for others in need. Many people are asking about getting supplies to our neighbors out West and we know the need will be great. A number of organizations are on the ground in these hard hit communities working already. Working through these organizations is the best way right now for citizens to have an immediate impact.
Western NC has seen major damage including significant damage to roads, cell towers and electrical systems making the area unsafe. Work is focused on rescuing those trapped, restoring communication systems and power.
Though well intended, emergency responders have asked that citizens not come to Western N.C. to leave roads clear for emergency responders.
If you would like to assist, please consider making a donation or signing up to volunteer through the organizations set up to assist. Monetary donations can stretch farther through groups that can purchase in bulk and have transportation logistics in place.
https://baptistsonmission.org/Mission-Projects/By-Mission-Type/Disaster-Relief/Hurricane-Helene
https://www.redcross.org/local/north-carolina.html
https://pay.payitgov.com/ncdonations
We will update with more options as disaster relief efforts continue.
We can all continue to pray for those who have been directly impacted and for those who are responding.
NCDA&CS to activate hotline Saturday to help farmers impacted by Tropical Storm Helene
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will activate its hotline Saturday, Sept. 28, to connect farmers with resources that can assist with damage and other agricultural emergencies related to the storm. The toll-free number is 1-866-645-9403. A live operator will be available on the hotline between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Waivers and Forms
Subject: Evacuation of Animals Due to Hurricane Milton; Partial Suspension of Interstate Movement Requirements Effective: October 6, 2024
Due to potential emergency conditions due to Hurricane Milton, the State of North Carolina will make the following temporary exceptions to the regulations governing the importation and exportation of animals coming into and leaving North Carolina. All animals moving under these exceptions are expected to return to their state of origin no later than November 6, 2024, unless this order is extended or rescinded:
•Horses being evacuated to North Carolina that have a current Coggins test will be admitted to the state without an Interstate Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (ICVI). A current Coggins test chart should accompany these horses.
•Horses being evacuated to North Carolina without a current Coggins test will be allowed entry into the state provided they will be allowed to return to their state of origin without a current Coggins or ICVI after the evacuation is lifted.
•All other animals being evacuated without an ICVI will be temporarily admitted to North Carolina and are also allowed to leave North Carolina provided the state to which they are destined has also waived their import requirements.
THIS SUSPENSION EXPIRES ON NOVEMBER 6, 2024 UNLESS EXTENDED OR RECINDED.
Copy of waiver:
/veterinary/hurricane-milton-veterinary-division-icvi-waiver/open
The Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division is extending the date for private pesticide recertification until Dec. 20 for all counties. These typically expire on Sept. 30. This extension is due to the devasting impact of Hurricane Helene. More information of pesticide licensing and certification - https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/structural-pest-control-and-pesticides/pesticide/licensing-and-certification
Based on field observations, conversations with agronomists and technical specialists, and in consideration of past and predicted weather conditions, the NCDA&CS is supportive of a blanket extension for swine effluent application on bermudagrass hayfields to the end date of October 151\ 2024. This is two weeks longer than the normal application which ends September 30, 2024.
Granting extensions on a case-by-case basis by Regional Agronomists is normally done, but it is anticipated that the need over the next few weeks will be greater than staff can accommodate. This type of an extension is not unprecedented. In 2015, 2016, and 2018, blanket extensions were granted after extended periods of wet weather and tropical systems.
More at this link - /blanket-extension-lagoon-pumping-bermuda/open
Due to the extensive flooding and power outages being experienced as a result of Hurricane Helene, some LP-Gas companies are not able to provide service to their customers for a variety of reasons, including damaged LP-Gas company equipment, lack of phone service to the company and access to the customer areas.
As these customers still need LP-Gas for emergency generators and other purposes, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, is exercising enforcement discretion with respect to General Statute 119-58 (b) to the extent that a LP-Gas supplier may make a delivery to a tank owned by another LP-Gas company or a customer owned tank that may have a contract with another LP-Gas company, during this situation. This is to allow for the continued service at the customer's location. This enforcement discretion is only applicable to the following counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Disaster Hay and Livestock Resources Assistance Information
The Disaster Hay and Livestock Resources Assistance Portal is a resource to connect farmers who have been impacted by Hurricane Helene with donated resources. No sales or transactions are made on this website. The requests and offers are collected and sent to NCSU Cooperative Extension where they are matched and coordinated by Extension personnel.
NCDA&CS assumes no liability for those farmers utilizing this service and recommends pursuing multiple avenues to secure feed and resources following a disaster. Various disaster programs may be available in the future to provide additional assistance, and be found Here.
Helpful Links
- NCDA&CS Historical Disaster Information
- National Hurricane Center
- NC Cooperative Extension Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Information
- NC Farm Bureau Offices
- NC Cooperative Extension Offices
- USDA Farm Service Agency Offices
- NCDA&CS Farm Planning
- NC EM Ready NC
- NCDA&CS Recovery Assistance Information