USDA Rural Development 

Disaster Resiliency and 

Recovery Resources

A Guide for Rural Communities

Together, America Prospers

Table of Contents

Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Rural Development Disaster Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Technical Assistance Preparedness and Recovery Partners . . . . . . . . 8

COVID-19 Response and Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Federal Partners in Disaster Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Federal Agencies Involved in Disaster Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Additional USDA Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Stories of Disaster Resiliency and Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Contact Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Background

USDA Rural Development (RD) developed this guide as a resource for rural communities seeking 

disaster resiliency and recovery assistance.

USDA RD offers programs and servicing options that can help rural residents, businesses, and 

communities impacted by disaster, and support long-term planning and recovery efforts that build 

for the future.

According to the recent National Climate Assessment (NCA), more frequent and extreme weather 

and climate-related events, as well as changes in average climate conditions, are expected to 

continue to damage infrastructure, ecosystems, and social systems that provide essential benefits to 

communities. Strategic emergency preparedness and response is critical to averting damage to the 

economy, environment, and human health.

The following sections provide an overview of available preparation assistance for rural communities.

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Rural Development Disaster Resources 

USDA RD has more than 40 loan, grant, and technical assistance programs available to help improve the economy 

and quality of life in rural America. Many of these programs can also help community efforts related to disaster 

preparedness, resiliency, and recovery. USDA RD partners with local leaders, developers, local, state, and Tribal 

governments, cooperatives, nonprofits, private organizations and a nationwide network of participating lenders to help 

build resiliency through planning and preparedness, and to help rural people and communities suffering the effects of 

disasters. USDA RD programs support a variety of needs including: 

• Transitional Housing and Home Repair

• Infrastructure and Emergency Equipment Financing

• Essential Community Facilities

• Telehealth, Distance Learning and Rural Broadband Connectivity

• Rural Business Planning and Recovery

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This resource matrix categorizes Rural Development programs by customer and assistance type. 

Eligible Entities Preparedness and 

Recovery through 

Community and 

Economic Development 

Planning and Housing

Preparedness and 

Recovery through 

Infrastructure and 

Equipment 

Includes health care clinics, 

wastewater systems, medical 

transportation, shelters, 

food pantries, telemedicine 

screening, distance learning, 

broadband, solar panels

Preparedness and 

Recovery through 

Industry and 

Entrepreneurship 

Support and Local 

Business Development

Includes career tech 

training modules, kitchen 

incubators, and farmers 

markets

Preparedness and 

Recovery through 

Education and Training 

Includes distance learning 

education, skills-based 

emergency training, 

mental health screenings, 

and remote medical 

appointments

Designed to assist forprofit rural businesses or 

individuals and entities.

Examples include: 

Corporations, limited 

liability companies, sole 

proprietorships, electric 

cooperatives, and 

agricultural producers.

• Farm Labor Housing 

Loans and Grants

• Multifamily Housing 

Direct Loans and 

Multifamily Housing Loan 

Guarantees

• Rural Economic 

Development Loan and 

Grant Program 

• Single Family Housing 

Direct Home Loans

• Single Family Housing 

Repair Loans and Grants

• Priority Housing for 

Displaced Individuals

• Water and Environmental

Programs Sustainable 

Management Tools

• Business and Industry 

Loan Guarantees

• Community 

Connect Grants

• Distance Learning and 

Telemedicine Grants

• Rural Broadband Access 

Loan and Loan Guarantee

• Rural Economic 

Development Loan and 

Grant Program 

• Rural Energy for America 

Program Renewable 

Energy Systems

• Single Family 

Housing Repair 

Loans and Grants

• Telecommunications 

Infrastructure Loans and 

Guarantees

• Business and Industry 

Loan Guarantees

• Rural Business 

Investment Program

• Rural Economic 

Development 

Loan and Grant Program 

• Value Added 

Producer Grants

• Distance Learning and 

Telemedicine Grants

Designed to assist public 

entities. Examples include: 

State or local governments, 

or federally-recognized 

Tribes or Tribal 

organizations.

• Community Facilities 

Technical Assistance and 

Training Grant

• Farm Labor Housing 

Loans and Grants

• Housing Preservation 

Grants

• Multifamily Housing Direct 

Loans and Multifamily

Housing Loan Guarantees

• Mutual SelfHelp Housing Technical 

Assistance Grants

• Rural Business 

Development Grants

• Rural Community 

Development 

Initiative Grants

• Rural Economic 

Development Loan and 

Grant Program

• Rural Placemaking 

Innovation Challenge

• Water and 

Environmental Programs 

SEARCH Grants

• Emergency Community 

Water Assistance Grants

• Business and Industry 

Loan Guarantees

• Community Connect 

Grants

• Community Facilities 

Direct Loans & Grants

and Community Facilities 

Guaranteed Loan Program 

• Distance Learning and 

Telemedicine Grants

• Emergency Community 

Water Assistance Grants

• Rural Broadband Access 

Loan and Loan Guarantee

• Rural Business 

Development Grants

• Rural Decentralized Water 

Systems Grant Program

• Telecommunications 

Infrastructure 

Loans and Guarantees

• Water & Waste Disposal 

Loan & Grant Program

• Water & Waste Disposal 

Predevelopment 

Planning Grants

• Water & Waste Disposal 

Grants to Alleviate 

Health Risks on Tribal 

Lands and Colonias.

• Business and Industry 

Loan Guarantees

• Community Facilities 

Technical Assistance and 

Training Grant

• Intermediary 

Relending Program

• Rural Business 

Development Grants

• Rural Community 

Development 

Initiative Grants

• Rural Innovation Stronger 

Economy Grant (RISE)

• Rural Microentrepreneur 

Assistance Program 

(RMAP)

• Community Facilities 

Direct Loans & Grants

and Community 

Facilities Guaranteed 

Loan Program 

• Community Facilities 

Technical Assistance 

and Training Grant

• Distance Learning and 

Telemedicine Grants

• Rural Business 

Development Grants

• Water and 

Environmental 

Programs Solid Waste 

Management Grants

• Rural Community 

Development 

Initiative Grants

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Eligible Entities Preparedness and 

Recovery through 

Community and 

Economic Development 

Planning and Housing

Preparedness and 

Recovery through 

Infrastructure and 

Equipment 

Includes health care clinics, 

wastewater systems, medical 

transportation, shelters, 

food pantries, telemedicine 

screening, distance learning, 

broadband, solar panels

Preparedness and 

Recovery through 

Industry and 

Entrepreneurship 

Support and Local 

Business Development

Includes career tech 

training modules, kitchen 

incubators, and farmers 

markets

Preparedness and 

Recovery through 

Education and Training 

Includes distance learning 

education, skills-based 

emergency training, 

mental health screenings, 

and remote medical 

appointments

Designed to assist 

nonprofit organizations 

and cooperatives, private, 

nonprofit schools, hospitals, 

libraries, and faith-based 

organizations, among 

others.

• Community Facilities 

Technical Assistance and 

Training Grant

• Farm Labor Housing 

Loans and Grants

• Intermediary Relending 

Program (IRP)

• Rural Business 

Development Grants

• Rural Community 

Development 

Initiative Grants

• Rural Economic 

Development Loan and 

Grant Program

• Rural Placemaking 

Innovation Challenge

• Socially Disadvantaged 

Groups Grant

• Transitional housing

• Water and Environmental 

Programs Sustainable 

Management Tools

• Water and Environmental 

Programs Technical 

Assistance 

and Training Grants

• Water and Environmental 

Programs SEARCH 

Grants

• Water and 

Environmental Programs 

Predevelopment 

Planning Grants

• Business and Industry 

Loan Guarantees

• Community 

Connect Grants

• Community Facilities 

Direct Loans & Grants

and Community Facilities 

Guaranteed Loan Program 

• Distance Learning and 

Telemedicine Grants

• Housing Preservation 

Grants

• Multifamily Housing Direct 

Loans and Multifamily 

Housing Loan Guarantees

• Rural Broadband Access 

Loan and Loan Guarantee

• Rural Business 

Development Grants

• Telecommunications 

Infrastructure 

Loans and Guarantees

• Water and Environmental 

Programs Water & Waste 

Disposal Loan & Grant 

Program

• Water and Environmental 

Programs SEARCH Grants

• Water and Environmental 

Programs Predevelopment 

Planning Grants

• Emergency Community 

Water Assistance Grants

• Rural Decentralized Water 

Systems Grant Program

• Business and Industry 

Loan Guarantees

• Community Facilities 

Technical Assistance and 

Training Grant

• Intermediary Relending 

Program

• Rural Business 

Development Grants

• Rural Community 

Development 

Initiative Grants

• Rural Cooperative 

Development Grant 

Program (RCDG)

• Rural Economic 

Development Loan and 

Grant Program 

• Rural Innovation Stronger 

Economy Grant (RISE)

• Rural Microentrepreneur 

Assistance Program 

(RMAP)

• Socially Disadvantaged 

Groups Grant

• Value Added 

Producer Grants

• Community Facilities 

Direct Loans & Grants

and Community 

Facilities Guaranteed 

Loan Program

• Community Facilities 

Technical Assistance 

and Training Grant

• Distance Learning and 

Telemedicine Grants

• Intermediary Relending 

Program (IRP)

• Rural Business 

Development Grants

• Rural Cooperative 

Development Grant

Program (RCDG)

• Rural Microentrepreneur 

Assistance Program

(RMAP)

• Water and Environmental 

Programs Solid Waste 

Management Grants

• Water and Environmental

Programs Sustainable 

Management Tools

• Water and Environmental 

Programs Technical 

Assistance 

and Training Grants

• Rural Community

Development 

Initiative Grants

Designed to assist 

Universities, community 

colleges and eligible 

educational institutions 

such as technology 

institutes and vocational 

schools, among others.

• Rural Business 

Development Grants

• Rural Community 

Development 

Initiative Grants

• Water and Environmental 

Programs Sustainable 

Management Tools

• Community Facilities 

Direct Loans & Grants

and Community Facilities 

Guaranteed Loan Program

• Distance Learning and 

Telemedicine Grants

• Rural Business 

Development Grants

• Rural Business 

Development Grants

• Rural Community 

Development 

Initiative Grants

• Rural Cooperative 

Development Grant 

Program (RCDG)

• Rural Innovation Stronger

Economy Grant (RISE)

• Community Facilities 

Direct Loans & Grants

and Community 

Facilities Guaranteed 

Loan Program

• Distance Learning and 

Telemedicine Grants

• Rural Business 

Development Grants

• Rural Cooperative 

Development Grant 

Program (RCDG)

• Water and Environmental 

Programs Solid Waste

Management Grants

*Specific eligibility requirements apply. Please refer to regulatory guidelines to learn more about applying for these opportunities. NOTE: In times of 

emergency, current borrowers should check Rural Development program web pages for important updates: www.rd.usda.gov.

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Technical Assistance Preparedness and 

Recovery Partners

In addition to Rural Development programs listed above, USDA also partners with – and 

funds a variety of – Technical Assistance providers to support rural communities in 

planning and recovery efforts, among them: 

• The Circuit Rider Program provides technical assistance to rural water systems experiencing 

operational, financial or managerial issues. Rural water system officials may request assistance 

from the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), or RUS staff may request assistance on behalf of the 

system. For this program, RUS contracts with the National Rural Water Association.

• The National Rural Water Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to training, supporting, 

and promoting the water and wastewater professionals that serve small communities across the 

United States.

• The Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) is a national network of nonprofit 

organizations working to provide technical assistance, training, resources, and support to rural 

communities across the United States, on Tribal lands, and in U.S. territories.

• The Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) is a collaborative multistate effort by 

Cooperative Extension Services across the country to improve the delivery of services to citizens 

affected by disasters. EDEN is made possible by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture 

(NIFA) and participating USDA Cooperative Extension and NOAA Sea Grant Extension programs.

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COVID-19 Response and Recovery

To help rural residents, businesses and communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, USDA RD implemented 

a variety of flexibilities with programmatic timelines and reporting requirements, extended loan moratoriums and 

forbearance options for borrowers, and increased investments in rural America with funding made available in 

supplemental appropriations bills.

As the nation continues down this path to recovery, USDA RD remains committed to helping rural America thrive.

www.rd.usda.gov/coronavirus.

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Federal Partners in Disaster Grid 

Through FEMA’s National Disaster Recovery Framework, and the Recovery Support Functions (RSF) structure, USDA 

RD works in partnership with a variety of agencies across USDA and the federal government to aid in recovery efforts.

Each RSF is assigned a coordinating federal agency along with several other primary and supporting agencies. USDA 

RD serves an important role in these interagency recovery efforts, offering financial or technical assistance support 

that spans all six RSFs: Community Planning and Capacity Building, Economic, Health and Social Services, Housing, 

Infrastructure Systems, and Natural and Cultural Resources.

Agency

Community 

Planning and 

Capacity 

Building

Economic Health and 

Social Services Housing Infrastructure 

Systems

Natural and 

Cultural 

Resources

Dept. of Homeland 

Security / FEMA

Coordinating 

(+ Primary) Primary Primary Primary Primary Primary

Dept. of 

Commerce / EDA Support Coordinating 

(+ Primary) Primary Support Support Support

Dept. of Health 

and Human 

Services

Support Support Coordinating Support Support N/A

Dept. of Housing 

and Urban 

Development

Primary 

(+ Support) Support Primary Coordinating 

(+ Primary) Support N/A

U.S. Army Corps 

of Engineers Support N/A N/A N/A Coordinating 

(+ Primary) Support

Department of the 

Interior Support Support Primary N/A Support Coordinating 

(+ Primary)

Department of 

Agriculture Support Primary Primary Primary Support Support

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Federal Agencies Involved in Disaster Assistance

The following federal resources complement USDA programs that can be used in 

disaster preparation, planning, resiliency and recovery featured in the matrix. This list 

is not inclusive of all federal disaster recovery resources.

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

https://www.fema.gov

• Department of Homeland Security

https://www.dhs.gov

• US Economic Development Administration

https://www.eda.gov

• Department of Commerce

https://www.commerce.gov

• Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

https://www.hhs.gov

• Department of Housing and Urban Development

https://www.hud.gov

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

https://www.usace.army.mil

• Department of Interior

https://www.doi.gov

• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

https://www.sba.gov

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Additional USDA Resources

• Disaster Resource Center | USDA The Disaster Resource Center provides information on how to prepare, recover 

and build long-term resilience during disasters and emergencies.

• Disaster Recovery Assistance | NRCS (usda.gov) From floods to drought, fire or hurricanes, NRCS provides disaster 

recovery assistance to farmers, ranchers, landowners and communities through a variety of USDA programs.

• Disaster Assistance Programs | FSA (usda.gov) USDA offers a variety of programs and services to help 

communities, farmers, ranchers, and businesses.

• https://www.farmers.gov/recover USDA is here to help you prepare, recover, and build long-term resilience to natural 

disasters. Visit the USDA Disaster Resource Center for information about specific disasters and emergencies and to 

connect with state and local help.

• Natural Disaster Resources | RMA (usda.gov) The Federal Crop Insurance Program is designed to provide a robust 

and reliable farm safety net, regardless of the size and scope of natural disasters.

• Tips for Handling Food Following a Disaster | USDA-FNS If any type of unexpected emergency strikes your 

community, you may not have access to fresh food, water, or electricity for days, maybe weeks. This web page is a 

portal site that will provide you with useful information so you can be prepared when an emergency strikes.

• D-SNAP vs. SNAP (usda.gov) Understanding the differences between USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 

Program and Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

• Rural America’s Partner in Disaster Recovery Brochure When disaster hits and you need to rebuild or repair your 

home, business, or community, USDA Rural Development offers financial assistance programs that an address 

immediate needs, support long-term recovery efforts, and build for the future in regions hit by natural disaster.

• USDA Rural Development Resource Guides (available at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xtrGn) address a wide variety 

of topics central to rural community development.

• USDA RD’s Catalog of Programs includes additional loan and grant program information and eligibility.

• USDA RD’s official website: www.rd.usda.gov

• https://www.rd.usda.gov/page/rural-development-disaster-assistance

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Stories of Disaster Resiliency and Recovery

A Heap of Hope When All 

Seemed Lost – Wildfire 

Survivor in Phoenix, Oregon

Susan Smith has lived through a lot over the years: hurricanes, a serious medical 

condition, a global pandemic. She had heard about the fire burning in Ashland, just south 

of her subsidized apartment in the small town of Phoenix, but wildfires had never gotten 

close enough to threaten her before. Then a police officer knocked on her door and told 

her to evacuate. “Now!” he ordered when she hesitated.

Susan had no time to pack. She doesn’t own a car, so the police officer paired her with another 

tenant who had room for both her and her service dog. They were the last to leave Rose Court 

Apartments, which was originally built with financing from USDA Rural Development and 

receives rental assistance for low-income tenants that cannot otherwise afford rent.

They spent the night at the Jackson County Expo Center evacuation site. The next day, 

they received the devastating news: their apartment complex had burned down.

For the next two weeks, Susan lived at the expo center. The evacuees who did not have a 

home to return to were then moved to hotels, where Susan spent another two weeks.

Through its MultiFamily Housing programs, USDA Rural Development issued a Letter of 

Priority Entitlement (LOPE), giving those displaced by the wildfires priority for placement 

at other USDA-financed rental properties. A unit soon became available nearby at the Big 

Valley Jacksonville Apartments. Susan was offered the space.

The family of the outgoing tenant, who was moving to an assisted living facility, learned 

from the apartment manager that the unit would be given to a wildfire survivor who had lost 

everything she owned.

When Susan moved into her new home, she was shocked to find it fully furnished. The family of 

the outgoing tenant had not only left behind all his furniture, they had also thoroughly cleaned 

the unit and stocked it with newly purchased supplies, from bath soap to grocery staples.

“I am truly blessed to have someone think of me at the time of my greatest need,” said 

Susan, who is determined to pay forward this generous gift.

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Building Resiliency for 

Islands in the Storm

The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) is no stranger to hurricanes and tropical storms. But In 

2017, the islands were hit by two major hurricanes that landed within weeks of each 

other. In the recovery efforts that followed, a couple of key items became clear: the need 

to improve island resiliency, and to ensure the continuity of vital services like electric 

service and access to medical care.

USDA RD partnered with the USVI Economic Development Authority (USVIEDA) to 

support a business incubator on St. Croix. Operating from an industrial park, the 

incubator housed five small, developing businesses that together have more than 

50 employees. To help support the economic stability of these rural small businesses, 

USDA RD provided a $50,000 Rural Business Development Grant, and funds were used 

to purchase and install a generator at the industrial park. This project helped ensure St.

Croix has one more power safety net in place when the next storm hits.

Continuity of medical care is another component of disaster preparation, whether for 

a global pandemic or weather-related incident. Telemedicine allows for remote care 

that keeps services in place regardless of physical obstacles. In 2019, USVI’s Plessen 

Healthcare implemented a telehealth program at its Orange Grove medical center, allowing 

patients on the island to get specialized medical care from doctors across the globe.

The technology and equipment that helped make telemedicine possible for Plessen 

Healthcare was supported by USDA RD’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) 

Grant program. The DLT grant program helps rural communities use the unique 

capabilities of telecommunications to connect to each other and the world, overcoming 

the effects of remoteness and low population density.

Partnerships Key to 

Louisiana Disaster 

Recovery Assistance

The Louisiana Watershed Initiative was launched in 2018, creating eight watershed 

regions across the state, each with a governance structure to support Louisiana’s 

long-term sustainability and resilience from flooding risks. Planning was underway in 

the various regions to develop approaches to lessen flood risk, improve capacities, and 

maximize natural functions when another series of disasters impacted the state. The 

2020 hurricane season and subsequent winter storms in early 2021 put a significant 

dent on Louisiana’s vital watersheds, as well as other infrastructure systems.

As part of FEMA-led recovery efforts, USDA RD coordinated with the Department of the 

Interior (DOI) to develop a two-day speaker series specific to Watershed 2, located in a 

rural portion of the state. The series included information on available programming and 

technical assistance resources that will serve as a foundation to help guide Watershed 

2’s priorities and decisions in recovery. Along with state and local groups, four federal 

agencies participated in the event.

Robust partnerships also helped address other infrastructure needs that followed the 

disasters. For instance, in response to Hurricane Laura in August 2020, USDA RD 

coordinated with FEMA’s Public Assistance staff to identify projects that need funding for 

equipment, rehabilitation, or new construction. As a result of this partnership, more than 

320 water, wastewater treatment, and community facilities projects came to the attention 

of Louisiana Rural Development’s Community Programs staff for preliminary eligibility 

reviews regarding scope and entity eligibility.

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Contact Us

USDA Rural Development

https://www.rd.usda.gov/

Contact your local RD State Office: 

https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices to 

learn more about RD loan, grant and technical 

assistance programs. or Multifamily Programs 

regarding rural rental housing assistance.

USDA Food and Nutrition Service

https://www.fns.usda.gov/

Contact to your SNAP State Contact: 

https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/state-directory

to learn more about the Supplemental 

Nutritional Assistance (SNAP) Programs.

USDA Risk Management Agency

https://www.rma.usda.gov/

USDA Farm Service Agency

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/

USDA Natural Resource Conservation Agency

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/national/

home/

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service

https://www.ams.usda.gov/

USDA Forest Service

https://www.fs.usda.gov/

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture

https://nifa.usda.gov/
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

RD-21002

January 2022