Claims and Loans:

Small Business Administration 

SBA has approved disaster declarations in Texas communities affected by wildfires in the Panhandle. Texas counties included in the declarations are Armstrong, Carson, Donley, Gray, Hansford, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Moore, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, and Wheeler.

SBA has granted access to its Home Disaster Loans, Business Physical Disaster Loans, and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which will provide low-interest loans to qualifying homeowners, renters, and businesses in affected communities following the Smokehouse Creek Fire and the Windy Deuce Fire.

SBA has a disaster loan outreach center located in Fritch (Hutchinson County). More information can be found here.  Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information, and download applications at sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance.

SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the following Disaster Loan Outreach Centers to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program.

HUTCHINSON COUNTY
Disaster Loan Outreach Center
Celebration Family Church, West Room
811 E. Broadway St.
Fritch, TX 79036
Mondays – Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

HUTCHINSON COUNTY
Disaster Loan Outreach Center
Dome Civic & Convention Center
1113 Bulldog Blvd.
Borger, TX  79007
Mondays – Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

HEMPHILL COUNTY
Disaster Loan Outreach Center
Department of Public Safety Office
400 Main St.
Canadian, TX  79014
Mondays – Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy announced a claims process for those who had property destroyed or livestock deaths due to the Smokehouse Creek Fire. 

Click here for more information and details on how to submit a claim.  


Disaster Resources:

United States Department of Agriculture

The USDA’s Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool will help affected producers identify the types of assistance that may be helpful. Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool | Farmers.gov

An Administrator’s Physical Loss Notification (APLN) has been authorized for the following designated disaster counties, as well as contiguous counties. The APLN makes emergency loans available to producers suffering physical losses, including buildings and livestock. 

• Primary counties – Armstrong, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Oldham, Potter

•  Texas Contiguous counties – Briscoe, Carson, Deaf Smith, Donley, Gray, Hansford, Hartley, Lipscomb, Moore, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher, Wheeler

•  Emergency Disaster Designation Fact Sheet

Emergency Haying and Grazing of CRP Acres

• FSA expanded authorization of emergency haying and grazing of CRP acres to support the relocation of livestock for grazing purposes. 
• Producers incurring increased costs associated with the transportation of livestock to and from CRP for emergency grazing purposes or transportation of CRP hay (one way) may also be eligible for ELAP transportation assistance. ELAP reimbursement costs are limited to 1000 miles not including the first 25 miles.
• Emergency haying and grazing is available until the beginning of the primary nesting season (PNS) in each state. Emergency grazing may continue during the PNS with a 50% reduction in the stocking rate, if the county where the CRP is located triggered drought eligibility for LFP (D2 for 8 consecutive weeks, D3 or greater).
• Expanding emergency haying and grazing of CRP to include a broader geographic area provides livestock producers access to additional eligible acres in advance of the PNS (Texas PNS started March 1st; the PNS in many states to the north does not begin until April 15th or May 1st).
• USDA Farm Service Agency Guidance on CRP Emergency Grazing Info Sheet for PNS dates click here.
• I led a letter to the USDA urging them to allow for a total release of CRP land without any restrictions for grazing in order to assist livestock producers affected by the wildfires. I will keep everybody updated if they allow for additional emergency grazing acres in Texas. 
• FSA continues to evaluate flexibilities and expanded opportunities to authorize emergency haying and/or grazing of eligible CRP acres to support areas affected by wildfires.

Farm Service Agency: The FSA should serve as the primary point of contact for all farmers and ranchers who may be impacted by the disaster.

FSA Disaster Assistance Programs at a Glance

•   Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP)
  •   LIP provides benefits to livestock producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather or by attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the Federal Government. LIP payments are equal to 75 percent of the average fair market value of the livestock.
  • LIP Fact Sheet

• Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP)
  • ELAP provides financial assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish for losses due to disease, certain adverse weather events or loss conditions, including blizzards and wildfires, as determined by the Secretary.
  • The ELAP policy can help cover the cost of transporting feed for livestock that rely on grazing. USDA has expanded the program to help ranchers cover above normal costs of hauling livestock to forage or other grazing acres.
  • An online tool is now available to help ranchers document and estimate payments to cover feed transportation costs caused by drought.
  • ELAP Fact Sheet
  •  Livestock

• Livestock Forage Program (LFP)
  • LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses for covered livestock and who are also producers of grazed forage crop acreage of native and improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or acreage planted specifically for grazing.
  • LFP Fact Sheet

• Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)
  • ECP provides emergency funding and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland and conservation structures damaged by natural disasters and implement emergency water conservation measures in periods of severe drought.
  • ECP Fact Sheet
    

Natural Resources Conservation Service: The NRCS can provide disaster assistance to farmers, ranchers, and communities through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Technical Assistance, and the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program.

NRCS Disaster Assistance Programs

Rural Development: While the primary contact for rural communities impacted by a disaster should be FEMA, Rural Development can provide support to homeowners, businesses and communities to aid in recover and rebuilding. RD can be helpful in providing a long-term response to disasters—through repair to homes, essential community facilities and rural water systems. 

Rural Development Disaster Assistance