For full story please click on this link: http://www.usda.gov/Newsroom/0339.04.html USDA ASSESSING DAMAGE FROM HURRICANE CHARLEY; PROVIDING WIDE RANGE OF ASSISTANCE TO PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2004 - Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today said USDA has deployed personnel and emergency resources to areas hit by Hurricane Charley USDA is providing food and logistical assistance to residents of Florida and assisting the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in assessing agricultural and rural infrastructure damage. In addition to USDA employees in the state, Bill Hawks, under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs, is in Central Florida today meeting with local, state and federal officials along with farmers and ranchers to assess damage from the hurricane and to help coordinate recovery assistance to producers and consumers. "Our thoughts are with all of those impacted by this storm," said Veneman. "We are providing on-site food assistance and will provide help to farmers and ranchers as quickly as possible." USDA assistance includes 120 tons of food commodities provided through USDA's Food and Nutrition Service for distribution in the affected area. The donated food is made up of 35 different commodities that will serve 250,000 meals to hurricane victims. Over $8 million dollars in replacement food stamp benefits already have been issued to current recipients. In addition, USDA's Farm Service Agency has awarded contracts for ready-to-feed infant formula in bottles to be dispatched by air for arrival in Florida on Tuesday. A USDA Forest Service incident command team is on the ground to help organize and manage a Federal Emergency Management Agency mobilization center and base camp at Lakeland. Forest Service assistance includes shower units for 500 people and meals for 500 people. In Florida, USDA's State Emergency Board is on the ground gathering agricultural damage information to be used in determining the type and amount of recovery assistance that will be needed. State emergency boards are composed of local representatives from 10 USDA agencies and are responsible for assessing disaster-related agricultural damage. Farmers are encouraged to contact their local USDA Service Center for additional information on assistance available, especially if power outages disrupt Internet service. USDA programs that will be activated during the Hurricane Charley recovery period include: Food Safety - USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service provided public service announcement to media outlets prior to hurricane landfall. The information pertains to keeping food safe during emergency power outages. It may be accessed at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_081204_01/index.asp. For additional information on food safety during an emergency, call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854); for the hearing-impaired (TTY) 1-800-256-7072. · Food Assistance - USDA'S Food and Nutrition Service assists those affected by the hurricane by providing food at shelters and mass feeding sites, issuing emergency food stamps and, if needed, distributing food packages directly to needy households. Application for food stamp assistance is through local Florida Department of Child and Family Services offices. Additional disaster food assistance information is at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/disasters/disaster.htm. Farmer and Rancher Assistance - In counties designated as primary disaster areas, as well as contiguous counties, low-interest emergency loans are available for qualified farm operators. Indemnity payments may be available for those with Federal Crop Insurance and for those covered by the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. For more information on these programs, contact your local FSA Service Center or go to http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov. There is $2.5 billion in federal crop insurance in place in the affected counties. Farmers should contact their crop insurance agents for specific claim information. USDA's Risk Management Agency is working closely with insurance providers to assess losses and expedite the payment of covered claims as quickly as possible. Watershed Protection - The Emergency Watershed Protection program, administered by USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, provides technical and financial assistance to preserve life and property threatened by excessive erosion and flooding. Information can be found at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/EWP/index.html Housing Assistance - USDA Rural Development helps borrowers who are victims of a disaster to recover from the financial hardship and to minimize potential delinquency or liquidation. For more information go to: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/disasters/disassistance.html Rural Business Programs - Numerous USDA Business Programs can be of assistance in providing financial relief to small businesses as a result of natural disasters. For information visit: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/disasters/disassistance.html Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants - Rural communities with a significant decline in quantity or quality of drinking water may be eligible for grants for emergency repairs or replacement of facilities on existing systems. 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