Corrected Link: http://www.usda.gov/2005/10/0454.xml USDA PREPARES FOR HURRICANE WILMA WASHINGTON, Oct. 21, 2005 - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced USDA has deployed personnel and resources to assist in the preparation for Hurricane Wilma's landfall. "As Hurricane Wilma approaches, USDA is prepared to provide food, emergency housing and other resources in the region," said Johanns. "Even as we stand ready to assist with Wilma, we continue to closely coordinate with many public and private partners to meet the immediate and long-term needs of those affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita." USDA has personnel on stand-by for immediate deployment to the affected area after the hurricane makes landfall. USDA has identified food inventories within Florida and in surrounding states and has pre-positioned for distribution into affected areas and for use in congregate meal service. Nearly 200,000 cases of commodities and baby foods are readily available thru existing inventories. USDA is prepared to deliver additional commodities if needed. USDA also is prepared to offer food stamp assistance and other food programs if requested by state officials. The USDA Rural Development office in Florida is working with the Red Cross and Salvation Army, in addition to government agencies, to match displaced residents with available housing. Nearly 8,000 evacuees from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have been placed in more than 2,600 Rural Development financed housing units nationwide. Individuals requiring housing assistance are invited to call USDA Rural Development at 1-800-414-1226. The Florida State and County Emergency Boards, chaired by the USDA Farm Service Agency, are on stand-by to assist with the response and quickly assess agricultural needs. The USDA Risk Management Agency is prepared to authorize emergency loss procedures that streamline, on a crop specific basis, certain loss determinations and payments as well as extending reporting deadlines. They also have mobilized all available loss-adjustment personnel to ensure timely settlement of claims. Additional information and updates about USDA's hurricane relief efforts are posted daily on the Web site at http://www.usda.gov For more information about making contributions for disaster assistance go to http://www.FirstGov.gov and http://www.DisasterHelp.gov USDA News oc.news@xxxxxxxx 202 720-4623 ---------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to webservices@xxxxxxxx and reference your email address.
