WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) advises neighborhoods, farmers and ranchers, households and small companies in the course of Hurricane Helene that USDA has programs that supply help in the wake of catastrophes. USDA personnel in the local, state and county workplaces stand prepared and aspire to assist.
USDA partnered with FEMA and other disaster-focused companies and produced the Disaster Resource. This main source of details uses a searchable understanding base of disaster-related resources powered by representatives with subject proficiency. The Disaster Resource Center site and web tool now supply a simple gain access to indicate discover USDA catastrophe info and help. USDA likewise established a catastrophe help discovery tool particularly targeted to rural and farming concerns. The tool strolls manufacturers through 5 concerns that produce customized outcomes determining which USDA catastrophe help programs can assist them recuperate from a natural catastrophe.
USDA likewise motivates locals and small companies in effect zones to call a regional USDA workplace to identify which support programs may fulfill their specific requirements.
Food security assistance:
Serious weather report frequently provide the possibility of power interruptions that might jeopardize the security of saved food. USDA motivates those in the course of the storm to take the following preventative measures:
- Throughout a power failure, if doors stay unopened, the fridge will keep food at a safe temperature level (listed below 40 ° F) for as much as 4 hours. A complete freezer will hold a safe temperature level for around 48 hours (24 hours if it is half complete). Keep fridge and freezer doors near avoid cold air from leaving.
- Keep a home appliance thermometer in both the fridge and freezer in case you do require to examine the fridge or freezer temperature levels.
- Freeze water in little storage bags or containers prior to a storm. These containers are little adequate to fit around the food in the fridge and freezer to assist keep food cold.
- Freeze cooled products, such as leftovers, milk and fresh meat and poultry that you might not require right away– this assists keep them at a safe temperature level longer.
- Think about getting 50 pounds of dry or block ice if a prolonged power blackout is possible. This quantity of ice ought to keep a completely equipped 18-cubic-feet freezer cold for 2 days.
- Group foods together in the freezer– this ‘igloo’ impact assists the food stay cold longer.
- Keep a couple of days’ worth of ready-to-eat foods that do not need cooking or cooling.
For concerns about food security, call the Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854, Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET (English or Spanish), e-mail MPHotline@usda.gov or live chat at Ask USDA.
Owners of meat and poultry producing companies who have concerns or issues might get in touch with the FSIS Small Plant Help Desk by phone at 1-877-FSIS-HELP (1-877-374-7435), by e-mail at infosource@fsis.usda.gov, or 24/7 online at www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/regulatory-compliance/svsp/sphelpdesk.