Wildfires can devastate entire communities by damaging homes, businesses, and farmland in their path. In the wake of these events, emergency managers often become the first point of contact for community members seeking recovery assistance.

While the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) often plays a central role in disaster support, there are several additional federal programs that may be available to help individuals, families, agricultural producers, and small businesses recover. The resources below may be useful for jurisdictions impacted by wildfire.

Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) may provide low-interest disaster loans to individuals, businesses, and nonprofits impacted by wildfire. These include:

• Homeowners and renters
• Businesses of all sizes
• Private nonprofit organizations
• Small agricultural cooperatives

These loan programs become available following a federal disaster declaration, usually requested by the Governor after certain thresholds are met. Emergency managers play an important role in gathering local damage data to support these declarations.

Once approved, SBA loans can help cover repair costs, replace property, and restore operations. Learn more at the SBA Disaster Assistance page.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Disaster Assistance Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers a wide range of support for farmers, ranchers, rural communities, and landowners affected by wildfires.

Disaster Resource Center

The USDA’s Disaster Resource Center provides centralized information on how to prepare, recover, and build long-term resilience after a disaster. Because wildfires often span public and private land, USDA firefighting and recovery efforts extend beyond national forests to assist landowners, producers, and communities across the landscape.

Farm Service Agency Assistance Programs

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) Disaster Assistance Programs provide targeted support for agricultural producers recovering from wildfire and other disasters.

Livestock Assistance

• Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP): Offers payments to eligible livestock producers for grazing losses caused by drought or wildfire.
• Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP): Provides financial relief for abnormal livestock deaths due to wildfire or adverse weather.
• Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP): Covers losses not included in other livestock disaster programs, such as those caused by fire, disease, or weather.
• Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP): Provides relief to livestock producers with approved 2021 LFP applications related to drought or wildfire. No separate application required.

Farm Loans

• Emergency Loan Program: Provides low-interest loans to help producers recover from production or physical losses caused by disasters.
• Disaster Set-Aside Program: Allows eligible producers with existing FSA loans to defer one year’s loan payment in federally declared disaster areas.

Farmland Recovery

• Emergency Conservation Program (ECP): Helps repair farmland and implement conservation measures during severe drought or post-wildfire.
  Learn more.
• Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP): Assists landowners in restoring non-industrial private forests damaged by wildfire.
  Learn more.

Crop and Tree Loss

• Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP): Assists producers of non-insurable crops when losses are caused by natural disasters, including wildfire.
• Tree Assistance Program (TAP): Provides financial aid to orchardists and nursery growers to replace trees, bushes, or vines damaged by fire or other disasters.

You can also download a printable overview of USDA disaster programs here: USDA Disaster Assistance Brochure (PDF)

Natural Resources Conservation Service – Disaster Recovery

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) helps farmers, ranchers, and communities recover from wildfires and other disasters through both technical and financial assistance.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) helps producers plan and implement conservation practices on land impacted by wildfire. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, and non-industrial private forestland. Available practices may include:

• Immediate soil erosion protection
• Minimizing spread of noxious or invasive plants
• Water quality protection
• Restoration of livestock infrastructure needed for grazing
• Emergency animal mortality management

Technical Assistance

NRCS conservationists can provide expert guidance to help producers and communities rebuild and strengthen their land. Services may include:

• Erosion prevention and control
• Soil protection and health restoration
• Directional water flow planning to avoid future flooding
• Preventative wildfire strategies
• Post-fire rehabilitation planning
• General conservation planning

Emergency Watershed Protection Program

Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program supports communities recovering from watershed damage caused by wildfires, floods, drought, and other disasters. Through the EWP, NRCS can help reduce hazards to life and property by supporting the following:

• Debris removal from stream channels, bridges, and culverts
• Reshaping and stabilizing eroded streambanks
• Repairing damaged drainage systems and levees
• Reseeding burned or eroded areas to prevent further degradation

For those jurisdictions with questions, need help reporting disaster impacts, or want to connect with available resources, please reach out to your IOEM Area Field Officer or Jarod Dick at jdick@imd.idaho.gov.