E-news Sign-up



*By submitting, you are subscribing to my newsletter.

Disaster Assistance

DISASTER INFORMATION HUB

Drought conditions across Montana can place extraordinary burdens on the state’s families and communities.  Drought is also a contributing factor to the intensity of the summer wild fire season.  Denny Rehberg is a fifth-generation Montana rancher who understands that disaster assistance programs can help provide stability and certainty for Montana’s families who are victims of natural disaster.

TOP NEWS

  • 2012 Disaster Declarations for Montana
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued disaster declarations affecting 27 Montana counties suffering from drought conditions. The declaration involves 13 Montana counties as primary disaster counties, while a total of 14 additional contiguous counties, two from primary declarations in North Dakota, will also qualify for disaster benefits.  Producers are encouraged to contact the Farm Service Agency office nearest them, or Rehberg’s Billings District Office for more information, toll-free at 1-888-232-2626.

Primary Disaster Declaration Counties:
Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, Meagher, Musselshell, Park, Powder River, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Treasure, Wheatland
Contiguous Counties:
Big Horn, Broadwater, Chouteau, Custer, Fallon, Fergus, Gallatin, Lewis and Clark, Petroleum, Rosebud, Teton, Yellowstone
Montana counties contiguous under disaster designation for North Dakota:
Fallon and Wibaux 

 Sign up to receive FSA News Updates

RESOURCES AND TOOLS
Below are links of information and assistance resources helpful to Montana industry and small businesses struggling economically due to natural disaster. 

USDA Drought and Drought Assistance
Resources from the USDA and other federal agencies to help farmers, ranchers, and small businesses wrestling with the drought crisis.

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)
FSA administers farm loans, commodity price support, disaster relief, conservation, and other resources for Montana farmers and ranchers.

FSA Montana Service Center Locator

FSA Disaster Assistance Programs
A comprehensive listing of programs and eligibility requirements, including the Emergency Loan Program, Disaster Debt Set-Aside Program, Emergency Conservation Program, the Livestock Forage Disaster Assistance Program, Livestock Indemnity Program, and more.

Emergency Haying and Grazing

2012 Map of MT counties authorized for CRP Emergency Haying & Grazing to date

USDA “Ask the Expert”
For a broad range of questions on Agricultur

Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response

Disaster Assistance Eligibility Tool

Current Montana Drought and Soil Conditions

Current U.S Drought Conditions

The Bureau of Reclamation's Drought Program

Wildland Fire Assistance, Conditions, and Statistics
Many USDA managed disaster assistance programs also covers losses due to wildfires. Below are links for current fire conditions, seasonal outlooks, and programs geared toward forest and wildland health.

Forest Service InciWeb - Incident Information
Current fire tracking and evacuation information

National Interagency Fire Center
Up-to-date regional fire statistics

National Interagency Coordination Center
Monthly Outlook and 3-month seasonal forecast of fire potential

Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) - Wildfire, 2012 Map of Eligible Montana Counties

The Emergency Forest Restoration Program
Assistance to nonindustrial private forest land damaged by natural disaster

Tree Assistance Program

Disaster Assistance Eligibility Tool

Wildland Fire Fighters
Answers basic questions on who our firefighters are and what do they do