Statement of Governor Perdue on USDA Disaster Declaration

ATLANTA- Governor Sonny Perdue issued the following statement today regarding the declaration of a federal disaster in Georgia by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) following the extreme drought that has hit Georgia this year. The disaster declaration was made in response to Governor Perdue’s request to USDA Secretary Mike Johanns earlier this year:

“Agriculture is our state’s oldest and largest industry, employing one out of every six Georgians. This year’s drought has had a severe impact on Georgia’s farmers. The low-interest loans and assistance provided by this declaration will help soften the devastating impact felt around the state.”

USDA declared 149 of Georgia’s 159 counties as primary natural disaster areas and nine more as contiguous disaster areas. The nine counties declared as contiguous disaster areas are: Baldwin, Chattahoochee, Dooly, Harris, Jones, Marion, Putnam, Talbot and Washington. The only one of Georgia’s counties not covered by the primary or contiguous designation is Muscogee. Any county not listed in the previous listings was approved as a primary disaster area.

The 10 counties not included in the primary designation will continue to be evaluated as more assessment reports and determinations of losses are completed by USDA.