Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller declared an agricultural emergency Sept. 4 in response to flash flooding along the Gulf Coast and in East Texas caused by Tropical Storm Edouard. The declaration activates Texas Department of Agriculture relief resources for farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses recovering from widespread flood damage.
The move opens state-administered disaster programs to producers at a moment when much of the region is still without power and more rain is in the forecast. Edouard weakened into a tropical depression after making landfall Tuesday, according to a Sept. 4 news release from the department.
More than 10,000 East Texas households remained without power on the morning of Sept. 4 after heavy winds and rainfall battered the region, the agency said. Some rural areas received nearly two feet of rain in less than 48 hours, and additional storms were forecast for the area over the weekend. The department urged residents to follow evacuation orders and to wait until local authorities say it is safe before returning to assess agricultural damage.
“Right now, our first priority is the safety of every Texan in East Texas who is in the path of these dangerous floods,” Miller said in the release. “Tropical Storm Edouard has brought heavy rains and dangerous conditions, and I urge everyone to take this seriously, stay off flooded roads, listen to local emergency officials, and look out for your neighbors.”
Miller also called on Texans to support the State of Texas Agriculture Relief Fund, known as the STAR Fund, and encouraged affected producers to apply for available disaster assistance. The fund provides grants to eligible farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses to repair or replace agricultural infrastructure damaged by natural disasters and relies on tax-deductible private donations. Producers can apply through the STAR Fund website or by calling 833-380-8282.
Two other department programs are open to storm-affected Texans, according to the release. The Hay and Feed Hotline, reachable at 877-429-1998, is a free service that connects hay donors and buyers during emergencies so livestock producers can meet critical feed needs. The AgriStress Helpline offers free, confidential support around the clock from professionals familiar with the pressures facing agricultural communities and can be reached by call or text at 833-897-2474.
“The storm may pass, but the work won’t stop when the rain does,” Miller said. “The Texas Department of Agriculture will be there alongside our farmers, ranchers, rural communities, and local partners as they begin the long road to recovery. We’ll do everything we can to help them recover, and I encourage every Texan who is able to support the STAR Fund so we can get help where it’s needed most. Texas is strong, and we take care of our own.”