Idaho america

2 Idaho counties designated as major natural disaster areas due to drought

BANNOCK COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) – Monday, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack sent a letter to Governor Brad Little designating two Idaho counties as primary disaster areas and five counties as contiguous disaster areas due to recent drought affecting the state.

Franklin and Oneida counties were designated as major disaster areas. Bear Lake, Caribou, Power, Cassia and Bannock counties were named contiguous disaster areas due to their proximity to Franklin and Oneida counties. Three Utah counties have also been designated as contiguous disaster areas: Box Elder, Cache and Rich counties.

All of Franklin County and parts of surrounding counties have been designated as Extreme Drought Areas by the US Drought Monitor. Historically, areas affected by extreme drought have experienced low spring snowpack, increased fires and impacted agriculture. See the Drought Monitor HERE.

Official designation as primary or contiguous disaster areas makes area farmers eligible to be considered for Farm Service Agency (FSA) assistance, which includes emergency loans. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months to apply for emergency loans. Local FSA offices can provide affected farmers with more information. A list of FSA county offices can be found HERE.

The Bannock County Emergency Management Office will continue to monitor drought conditions in the area.