USDA Designates Four Texas Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought, Excessive Heat, and High Winds

This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.

Impacted Area: Texas

Triggering Disaster 1: Drought, Excessive Heat, and High Winds occurring January 1, 2024, through June 30, 2024.

Application Deadline: June 23, 2025

Primary Counties Eligible: Willacy

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible: Cameron, Hidalgo, and Kenedy

Triggering Disaster 2: Excessive Heat occurring June 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023

Application Deadline: June 23, 2025

Primary Counties Eligible: Bee, Live Oak, and McMullen

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible: Atascosa, Duval, Goliad, Jim Wells, Karnes, La Salle, Refugio, San Patricio, and Webb

More Resources
On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Loan Assistance Tool can help you determine program or loan options. To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local USDA Service Center.