Disaster Declaration Update

Smyrna, DE – On Monday afternoon, Governor John Carney was notified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that the request for Individual Assistance, as part of the major disaster declaration request for the State of Delaware, was denied.  The determination was made by FEMA that “the impact to individuals and households in New Castle County is not of the severity and magnitude to warrant designation of Individual Assistance.”

Sunday October 24, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Delaware and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the remnants of Hurricane Ida from September 1 to September 7, 2021.  Approved were requests for Public Assistance and assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for New Castle County as well as Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding statewide. Public Assistance provides funding for state, local governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations, on a cost-sharing basis, for emergency protective measures and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged as a result of the event.

Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) will continue to work our federal partners, local government entities, and non-profits which were affected by the flooding.  To submit eligible Public Assistance projects, state and local government agencies, and eligible nonprofits, should register through our Grants Portal Registration Form or to learn more contact: Joshua Kelly.  To learn more about how to register check out this video.

As part of the disaster declaration, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loans are now available to certain Delaware Private Non-Profit (PNP) organizations, businesses, homeowners, and renters in New Castle County affected by the remnants of Hurricane Ida.  Additionally, Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) are available to help meet working capital needs, such as ongoing operating expenses, regardless of whether the organization suffered any physical property damage.  Applicants may apply for declaration #17238 online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website.  Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or sending an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can also be downloaded from sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.  The filing deadline to submit applications for physical property damage is December 23, 2021. The deadline to submit economic injury applications is July 25, 2022.

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Contact: Jeff Sands, Delaware Emergency Management Agency, 302-659-2211.

Delaware requests emergency declaration from USDA for crop damage due to recent storms

DOVER, Del. — Too much rain at the wrong time, like Delaware experienced in April and May, has destroyed several high dollar crops and threatens the yield of many others, leaving farmers to wonder what the future holds. In surveying the state and listening to farmers, Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse made a request for an emergency disaster declaration two weeks ago to USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Service Center.

“Delaware family farms are the backbone of our economy, making agriculture our number one industry,” said Governor Carney. “Farming is hard no matter what – but when you get hit with the weather we have seen this spring, and the damage it has done to our fruit and vegetable crops, our grains, and our hay – it has a huge impact on our farmers, our communities, and the state as a whole.”

Once a request for a declaration is made, the FSA staff begins official surveys of the status of current crops at the state and county level. These reports are then compiled, reviewed, and sent on to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. In order to be eligible for this declaration, Delaware has to have at least 30 percent loss in crop production for at least one crop.

“It is impossible for Delaware farmers to come out of this without emergency assistance,” said Scuse. “Many of our fruit and vegetable farms have taken a beating and other crops definitely will not be able to reach optimal yields. We have farmers who are trying to plant field corn for the third and fourth time. That’s a lot of money invested in seed and when the bill arrives they are going to need help paying it.”

The state has three months from the last day of the disaster to file a declaration request to USDA.

The benefit of an emergency disaster declaration is it gives farmers time to apply and get an emergency loan. These loans help producers to recover from production and physical losses from the torrential rains and flooding in Delaware. Farmers have nine months to apply for the loans once USDA makes the official crop damage declaration, which provides them time to compile the paperwork and only apply for the funds they really need to borrow.

Once submitted, Delaware has to wait to learn if USDA will grant them the emergency declaration.

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Media Contact: Stacey Hofmann, 302-698-4542, stacey.hofmann@delaware.gov