USDA Urges Farmers and Ranchers to Take Action Ahead of the 2026 Hurricane Season

By Lauren Moore

USDA is here to help you prepare for and recover from hurricanes and related tropical weather activity. The 2026 hurricane season begins on June 1, and USDA is asking producers to prepare their operations for potential impacts and explore recovery resources.

Hurricane Preparation

While USDA offers a suite of disaster assistance programs to help you recover, we encourage you to first take precautions to prepare and protect your family and operation:

• Develop an Emergency Plan: Make sure your employees and members of your household know your plan, including meeting points, emergency contact lists, and alternate evacuation routes in case of infrastructure damage.
• Remove Debris and Secure Large Objects: Minimize the presence of equipment, supplies, and debris that may become airborne during high winds or encountered in floodwaters. Clean out culverts, ditches, and other drainage areas, especially before and during peak hurricane season to reduce water damage.
• Document Inventory and Secure Important Records: Documentation is critical for insurance compensation and recovery assistance. We recommend keeping an inventory of farm buildings, vehicles, equipment, and livestock before a disaster occurs.  You’ll likely need thorough records of any damage and losses sustained on your farm as well as documentation of your cleanup and recovery efforts.
• Know Your Insurance Options: Regularly review your insurance policies with your agent to be sure you have adequate coverage, including flood insurance, for your facilities, vehicles, farm buildings, equipment, crops and livestock. Note, there are limitations on how soon insurance coverage will take effect. Generally, insurance policies will not cover damage if the policy was not in place before a disaster.
• Gather Supplies: Have drinking water, canned food, a generator, batteries, a flashlight, and fuel available in case you lose power. Have cash on hand in cases of widespread outages, when credit and debit cards may not work.
• Access Real-time Emergency Information: Download the FEMA app for free on the App Store and Google Play for safety tips on what to do before, during, and after disasters.