Cohen: Shelby County Receives Agriculture Disaster Designation from USDA
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) today announced that Shelby County has received an agricultural disaster designation from U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack because of damage and losses due to severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding that began on April 23 and continued on. Many other counties in Tennessee will also receive federal assistance.
“Memphians and Tennesseans still need help recovering from the storm earlier this year,” said Congressman Cohen. “This new disaster designation will go a long way toward helping Memphis and Shelby County recover from the severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds and tornadoes we experienced.”
By clicking this link you will find a letter from the U.S. Department of Agriculture regarding agricultural disaster designations in Tennessee for the counties of Dyer, Giles, Greene, Hancock, Hardeman, Hardin, Hawkins, Henderson, Knox, Lake, Madison, Obion, Shelby, Tipton and Washington. Benefits are also available for the contiguous counties of Anderson, Blount, Carroll, Carter, Chester, Claiborne, Cocke, Crockett, Decatur, Fayette, Gibson, Grainger, Hamblen, Haywood, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Lawrence Lincoln, Loudon, Marshall, Maury, McNairy, Roane, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, Union, Wayne and Weakley.
Producers in both primary and contiguous counties are eligible to be considered for Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans (EM) and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE). SURE was approved as part of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 and was implemented beginning on January 4, 2010.
Regarding EM loans, FSA will consider each application on its own merit by taking into account the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability. Local FSA offices can provide affected farmers and ranchers with additional information.
Last May, Congressman Cohen contacted the Federal Emergency Management Agency to determine when and how the federal government could step in to help Memphis and Shelby County. He joined with Congressmen Jim Cooper, Lincoln Davis and Marsha Blackburn in issuing a letter to urge the Governor to request a Preliminary Damage Assessment – a first step that had to take place before asking for a Presidential Disaster Declaration.
Once the Governor requested federal help, Congressman Cohen joined the Congressmen and Senators from Tennessee to ask President Obama to approve the request for disaster relief as quickly as possible, which he did.
Congressman Cohen toured neighborhoods to see the damage firsthand and will continue to push the federal government to do everything possible to assist those affected in the 9th District.