USDA urges farmers, households and businesses in Eastern U.S. to prepare for intensifying winter storm

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday urged farmers, ranchers, households, and small businesses across the Southeast, southern Virginia, and potentially parts of the mid-Atlantic and New England to prepare for a rapidly intensifying winter storm expected to develop into a bomb cyclone this weekend.

USDA said staff in regional, state, and county offices are prepared to assist communities before, during, and after the storm. The agency directed residents and agricultural producers to its Disaster Resource Center and Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, which provides information on federal recovery programs, and encouraged contact with local USDA Service Centers to assess available support.

The department warned that strong winds and heavy snowfall could trigger widespread power outages and issued food safety guidance. USDA said refrigerators can keep food below 40 degrees Fahrenheit for up to four hours during an outage, while a full freezer can maintain safe temperatures for about 48 hours. The agency advised against placing food outdoors in snow, recommended freezing water containers or perishable items ahead of time, and urged households to stock several days’ worth of ready-to-eat foods.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service advised pet owners and livestock producers to ensure animals have adequate shelter, dry bedding, and access to unfrozen water. Producers moving livestock across state lines were told to coordinate with receiving states’ veterinary authorities and to follow instructions from emergency officials, particularly in areas at risk of blizzard conditions or coastal flooding.

For agricultural operations, USDA highlighted a range of disaster assistance and risk management programs. Producers covered by federal crop insurance or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program were reminded to report losses within 72 hours of discovering damage and to submit written follow-up within 15 days.

Additional programs include the Livestock Indemnity Program; emergency assistance for livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish; the Tree Assistance Program for orchards and vineyards; and conservation and forest restoration programs administered by USDA agencies. The Natural Resources Conservation Service said it can provide technical and financial assistance, including through the Emergency Watershed Protection Program in areas vulnerable to erosion or flooding.

The Farm Service Agency also offers direct and guaranteed loans, low-interest emergency loans in designated disaster areas, and loan servicing options for borrowers affected by natural disasters.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service said it is prepared to coordinate with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and respond to state requests for emergency nutrition assistance as the storm unfolds.