Secretarial Disaster Declaration S4944
1 Overview
A Background
On April 23, 2021, the Secretary of Agriculture designated 13 Texas counties as primary natural disaster areas. This action is based on damages and losses caused by winter storm, blizzard, snow, ice, and high winds occurring February 10, 2021 through February 19, 2021. The primary counties are:
Bexar, Burleson, Cameron, Comanche, Concho, Fannin, Fisher, Jackson, Menard, Nolan, Runnels, Willacy, Williamson
In addition to the above counties, 48 other Texas counties are named as contiguous where eligible family farmers may qualify for FSA EM loan assistance, pursuant to section 321 (a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act. Those counties are:
Atascosa |
Bandera |
Bastrop |
Bell |
Brazos |
Brown |
Burnet |
Calhoun |
Coke |
Coleman |
Collin |
Colorado |
Comal |
Delta |
Eastland |
Erath |
Grayson |
Guadalupe |
Hamilton |
Hidalgo |
Hunt |
Jones |
Kendall |
Kenedy |
Kent |
Kimble |
Lamar |
Lavaca |
Lee |
McCulloch |
Mason |
Matagorda |
Medina |
Milam |
Mills |
Mitchell |
Robertson |
Schleicher |
Scurry |
Stonewall |
Sutton |
Taylor |
Tom Green |
Travis |
Victoria |
Washington |
Wharton |
Wilson |
|
Also, in accordance with section 321 (a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, counties in an adjacent State that are contiguous to one or more of the designated Texas counties, are named as contiguous counties where eligible family farmers may qualify for FSA EM loan assistance. For this designation, the affected States and counties are:
Oklahoma (1), Bryan
This designation makes farm operators in both primary and contiguous counties eligible to be considered for low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.
B Application Deadline
EM Loan applications will be received through December 23, 2021 for production and physical losses.
2 Action
A Exceptions for Application Deadlines
County Offices shall thoroughly review Exhibit 1.
B Determining Security Values
For the purpose of determining loan security values for loan applications, the beginning date of the incidence period is February 10, 2021.
C District Director’s and Farm Loan Manager’s Responsibilities
District Directors and Farm Loan Managers shall follow instructions according to 3-FLP (Rev. 2), and FmHA Instruction 1945-A for emergency loan applicability.
The Farm Loan Manager shall notify borrowers of Disaster Set-Aside (DSA) availability in accordance with handbook 5-FLP paragraph 42.
D Public Announcements
Special emphasis will be placed on informing the farm community through public announcements and arranging and conducting meetings with local Agricultural lenders and leaders.
3 Contact Point
A Inquires
If there are questions concerning this notice, contact the Conservation or Farm Loan Program Division.
Please carefully review the notice listing the primary and contiguous counties determined eligible by the Secretary and the Emergency Preparedness and Programs Branch for emergency (EM) loans effective April 23, 2021.
This declaration is coded S4944, and EM loan applications will be received through December 23, 2021. For the purpose of determining loan security values for loan applications, the beginning date of the incidence period is February 10, 2021.
Please proceed to take the appropriate notification and coordination actions required by Handbook 1-DIS and 7CFR part 759.