USDA Designates Counties in Maryland as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought and Excessive Heat; Additional Contiguous Areas in Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia

This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.

Impacted Area: Maryland

Triggering Disaster: Drought and Excessive Heat that occurred 6/22/2024 through 10/22/2024.

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Application Deadline: 9/15/2025

Primary Counties Eligible: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Charles, Dorchester, Harford, Prince George's, St. Mary's.

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:
Delaware: Sussex.
District of Columbia: District of Columbia.
Maryland: Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Baltimore.
Pennsylvania: Lancaster, York.
Virginia: Fairfax, King George, Prince William, Stafford, Westmoreland, Alexandria.

More Resources
On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Loan Assistance Tool can help you determine program or loan options. To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local USDA Service Center.