FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 15, 2005
Contact: Spence Jackson, (573)751-0290
Blunt’s Action Results in Updated Disaster Declaration Request
JEFFERSON CITY—Gov. Matt Blunt has added three counties to his request for a natural disaster declaration from U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns. The letter, sent to Secretary Johanns late Friday asks that, in addition to the original 109 Missouri counties, Andrew, Linn, and Scott counties be declared natural disaster areas for agricultural loss due to drought.
According to the USDA Farm Service Agency’s damage assessment reports these counties, as well as Atchison and Holt counties, did not meet the established eligibility requirements to receive disaster declarations.
"The official reports and reports I heard directly from Missouri’s farm families did not tell the same story. I asked the Farm Service Agency to take a second look, when they did, three more Missouri counties qualified for the disaster declaration," Blunt said. "The drought has devastated our agriculture industry. I will continue to do all I can to ensure Missouri farm families have access to all available resources to help them overcome the drought’s impact."
In addition to requesting assessment reports from the Farm Service Agency and following up with a disaster declaration request to Secretary Johanns, Blunt has also activated Missouri’s Drought Assessment Committee. The committee compliments the work of the Farm Service Agency by examining drought indicators that cover a broader scope than agricultural impact alone. In order to establish drought levels for the state, some of the things the committee considers include climate, rainfall, plant conditions and stream and lake levels. The committee’s status map, reflecting their broad assessment of the drought, is available online at www.dnr.mo.gov/geology/droughtupdate.htm.