Due to the catastrophic damage that Hurricane Helene caused in the southeast as well as the continuing impacts from Hurricane Debby, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is authorizing emergency procedures to help producers with hurricane-related losses. USDA RMA emergency procedures have also been added for Hurricane Milton and additional procedures for Hurricane Helene and Debby.

If you have Federal Crop Insurance, contact your crop insurance agent as soon as crop or livestock losses are apparent. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) has authorized crop insurance companies to provide flexibility on reporting requirements for those who are unable to report losses timely due to the disaster.

RMA is working with crop insurance companies to streamline and accelerate the adjustment of losses and issuance of indemnity payments to crop insurance policyholders in impacted areas.

Emergency procedures will help streamline paperwork and reduce the number of required representative samples when damage is consistent. These flexibilities will reduce burdens on both insurance companies and producers.

RMA’s emergency procedure flexibilities apply to all counties in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia impacted by Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Debby. Please refer to all USDA RMA emergency bulletins for more specific information.

Read more about the emergency procedures for states impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Debby here.

USDA RMA Resources: