Federal Emergency Management Agency Designates Rhode Island Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

This Presidential disaster declaration 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: Rhode Island


Triggering Disaster: Severe Storms and Flooding that occurred between January 9 and January 13, 2024

Application Deadline: January 9, 2025

Primary Counties Eligible: Newport

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

Rhode Island: Bristol, Kent, Washington
Massachusetts: Bristol

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, please contact the Rhode Island FSA Farm Loan Team at (401) 828-3120 Option 2 or the Rhode Island FSA County Office at (401) 828-3120 Option 1.

FEMA offers different assistance programs for individual citizens, public groups including government agencies and private nonprofit organizations.  To find the FEMA help you need following a disaster event, visit fema.gov/assistance.