Travis County Commissioners Court
March 17, 2009,
Item 2
>> 2 is to receive status report regarding the governor's request for a presidential disaster declaration due to drought conditions.
we discussed this briefly last week and asked staff to gather additional information to share with us if possible.
>> good morning, pete baldwin, emergency management coordinator.
to my right, herschel lee, acting fire marshal.
as of late yesterday afternoon the governor's request to the federal government for a presidential disaster declaration due to drought conditions was with the united states department of agriculture being considered.
we expect positive probably have some kind of an answer later on this week.
whether or not he has asked to have all 254 counties in the state of Texas included, if that is granted, then we will just have to see what the terms are as far as what that means for assistance.
more than likely it will mean some type of low interest loans.
now, currently the residents of Travis County are eligible for sba loans if they have been impacted by fire.
and that is a result of the wilderness ridge fire in bastrop a couple of weeks ago.
what happens is when a county is declared, all contiguous counties then receive those same benefits for sba, small business administration loans.
so there is eligibility if we have farmland or agricultural land or whatever that has been damaged by fire.
however, if it's directly related to drought we don't know that yet.
it's been requested and we're waiting on that answer.
as of yesterday afternoon it was with the united states department of agriculture.
>> let me ask you this question, especially when it comes to the farmers and the ranchers that may not experience fire, but -- but in the other category of drought.
how close are we getting to announce on that?
and I guess my next question, would it be of interest to the farmers and also the ranchers to check maybe with the farm service agency, the local farm service agency here within Travis County to see if they have been notified as far as possible disaster relief dealing with drought because that is still a big item, a big subject matter in this drought-stricken region.
the farmers and the ranchers all across this region have suffered some tremendous losses in their interest because of drought, whereby the cattle, whether it be raising agricultural crops or even just dealing with regular hay for feed.
it's just been some significant turnaround in loss of business.
and it would be very interesting I think if we could maybe speed the process up so to allow these persons to maybe realize that there may be some relief that may be available.
so any way we can speed that process up to inquire on the possibility of farmers and ranchers being included in this -- not with the advent of fire, but just drought?
>> we will certainly make every effort to keep track of where that is with the united states department of agriculture.
we are in constant communication with our agriculture gri life extension service and they have means and methods to get that information out very quickly to the farmers.
>> who is the representative of that now for Travis County?
>> skip richter is the extension agent.
>> in that particular area?
>> yes, sir.
>> I know we have representation all over -- in 254 counties.
>> that is for Travis County.
>> in Travis County it's skip richter.
>> thank you.
>> who is the contact person for fire-related damage?
>> the actual office is open in bastrop.
there is a small business administration office ha has opened up there locally.
i do not have that address with me right now, but I can certainly get it and we can post that to our website.
>> so right now fire related and we're waiting on word about drought.
>> yes, sir.
>> okay.
let us know when to put it back on.
>> yes, sir.
>> do you know exactly about how much money?
>> no, sir.
i wouldn't --
>> you have no idea about it?
>> it would depend upon the nature of the declaration, it's what all they include.
>> okay.
thanks.
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 1:35 PM