Resources in response to Hurricane Idalia

Here are a lot of resources–to stay safe, to deal with the aftermath, and to take care of our stress levels throughout. I pray you all stay safe.

Staying Safe information from UGA Extension:

• Home Emergency Preparedness Checklist
• Home Emergency Preparedness Handbook

Emergency preparedness general resources

• Weather Emergencies | UGA Cooperative Extension
• ResidentsHandbook.pdf (uga.edu)
• Emergency Kit Checklists (uga.edu)
• Hurricane Prep for Farms – UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County (ufl.edu)
• Horses and Horse Farms: Hurricane Preparedness | NC State Extension (ncsu.edu)
• Top Tips to Help Farmers Prep for Natural Disasters | AgAmerica
• Ready.gov

Food and water safety-specific resources Storing Food for Emergencies

• Storing Water for Emergencies
• If the Power Goes Out
• Is Your Food Safe After a Flood
• Purifying Non-Potable Water
• Sanitizing After a Flood
• Foodsafety.gov has an infographic you can share: https://extension.uga.edu/content/dam/extension/topic-areas/timely-topics/emergencies-and-disasters/power-outage-infographic.jpg

Information on crop loss and disaster assistance (from our friends at GAF&VGA):

•  Federal Crop Insurance Program or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) remember to report crop damage to their crop insurance agent or local FSA office, respectively, within 72 hours of discovering the damage and follow up in writing within 15 days.  
• It is critical that producers keep accurate records to document damage or loss and to report losses to their local USDA Service Center as soon as possible. Due to long-standing federal law, producers should not perform any cleanup efforts until an environmental evaluation has been completed by your local county office unless there is an immediate threat to human life. Failure to comply could jeopardize a producer’s payment eligibility.
• The Tree Assistance Program provides cost-share assistance to rehabilitate or replant orchards and vineyards when storms kill or damage trees, vines, or bushes. NAP or Federal Crop Insurance often only covers the crop and not the plant.  
• The Emergency Conservation Program and Emergency Forest Restoration Program can assist landowners and forest stewards with financial and technical assistance to restore damaged farmland or forests.  
• On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet (PDF, 1.4 MB), and Farm Loan Discovery Tool can help producers and landowners determine program or loan options.
• For assistance with a crop insurance claim, producers and landowners should contact their crop insurance agent (see site to find your agent) https://www.rma.usda.gov/en/Information-Tools/Agent-Locator. For FSA and NRCS programs, they should contact their local USDA Service Center

Managing stress and mental health during hurricane season

• Remember the 988 lifeline, 24-hr free and confidential help
• Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990
• Recovering emotionally from a disaster
• Managing mental health during hurricane season
• Coping Tips for Traumatic Events and Disasters
• Helping children cope with emergencies
• How to emotionally prepare for a hurricane
• How to Prepare for a Disaster, Emotionally and Mentally
• How to Prepare for Emergencies, Make a Plan
• What to say and not say after a natural disaster