Disaster Information

***NEW*** Flood Recovery Resources from California Department of Food and Agriculture

Heavy rainfall in early 2023 caused floodwater challenges for many in California’s agriculture community, and CDFA is offering a web page featuring relief and support resources from state and federal partners.

AWM and CDFA will continue to monitor the range of resources available and will update the webpage.

***NEW*** Agricultural Damage Reporting Due to Winter Storm Events

Governor Newsom recently proclaimed a state of emergency throughout California for both recent and upcoming winter storms and recently requested Presidential Emergency Declaration for ongoing winter storm event impacts. The request was approved by President Biden.

The County of San Diego was not included as an eligible county in this approval, but in the past supplemental requests have been made to add specific counties if they experience impacts that would warrant federal support.

If you have experienced or do experience any potential impacts to your agricultural operation due to the previous or upcoming rain events, please fill out the Agricultural Damage Assessment form.

The form can be returned to any AWM office or emailed to sdcawm@sdcounty.ca.gov. AWM Office locations are at:

• 9325 Hazard Ste. 100, San Diego, CA 92123
• 151 E. Carmel St., San Marcos, CA 92078

These forms will be compiled to report impacts and determine eligibility for federal and state support.

***NEW*** References Related to Flooding and Livestock Available from UC Davis

As California faces another round of severe rainfall and flooding, the University of California-Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine (UCD-SVM) has four references available for free download. Each document supplies specific information for livestock owners who are preparing for, responding to and recovering from flooding.

• Flooding and Equine Owners
• Flooding and Livestock Owners
• California Dairies: Coping with Flooding and Evacuation
• Checklist for Emergency Flood Evacuation of a Dairy
• Sandbags Available for Upcoming Storms | News | San Diego County News Center
• Flooding (readysandiego.org)

***NEW*** Detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)

The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been detected in wild birds in San Diego County as of October 18, 2022. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is the lead agency on this matter, and it was their testing of sick birds from Lake San Marcos that were reported by the community last Friday that confirmed the HPAI detection in our region.  Previously, HPAI had already been detected in domestic flocks in 10 California counties, including Orange and Los Angeles. CDFA has a dedicated HPAI webpage with additional information: CDFA - AHFSS - AHB - Avian Influenza (ca.gov)

The greatest risk of HPAI is for commercial and non-commercial poultry farmers/owners having their flocks infected with the bird flu and impacting bird health and possible death. It is important to note that HPAI is widespread in California and enhanced biosecurity is critical in the face of ongoing disease outbreaks. Please continue to practice good avian biosecurity protocols according to your plans.

Here are some biosecurity recommendations to help protect your flock: 

• Wash your hands before and after handling your birds. This includes when handling birds from coop to coop. 
• Prevent contact between domestic and wild birds by bringing your birds into an enclosure that is covered.
• If you have bodies of water on your property such as ponds or ditches, consider draining them to avoid attracting wild birds, and keep your domestic birds  away from this potentially contaminated water. 
• Use sanitized well or city water for your birds. 
• Prevent rodents and predators from entering your coop. 
• Prevent pets such as cats and dogs from eating dead wild birds.
• Keep feed covered and spills cleaned up to avoid attracting wild birds and rodents. 
• Wash and disinfect boots and equipment when moving between coops. 
• Do not share equipment or supplies with neighbors. 
• Clean and disinfect equipment and other supplies between uses. 
• Clean and disinfect your shoes and vehicle tires after visiting feedstores and other places frequented by other poultry owners or wild bird hunters. 
• Avoid visiting places where wild birds congregate such as lakes and ponds

Report any unusual or suspicious sick or dead domestic, pet, or collection birds immediately via the CDFA Sick Bird Hotline at (866) 922-2473.

Report any unusual or suspicious wild bird deaths to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) online at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Laboratories/Wildlife-Health/Monitoring/Mortality-Report. If you have questions about wildlife rehabilitation, please contact the CDFW directly.

More information can be found in the following documents:

Informational Flyer

Avian Influenza Flyer

Map of California County Detections

Poultry Product Permit RequirementsUSDA Drought Disaster Designation

On April 8, 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture granted a Secretarial disaster designation for San Diego County due to the drought. The USDA’s Farm Service’s Agency (FSA) and the US Small Business Administration (SBA) have resources available for drought assistance. For more information on this please refer to following handout on FSA’s Emergency Loan Program or visit their FSA’s website linked below.  Please also see the handout on SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans or visit SBA’s website linked below.  If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the Farm Service Agency local County Executive Office at (760)-347-3675 and the SBA at 1-800-659-2955 or disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

FSA Emergency Loan Handout

FSA Emergency Loan Information

FSA Emergency Loan Website

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans Handout

SBA Economic Disaster Loans Website

On 1/20/2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator authorized the processing of FSA emergency loans for Severe Physical Losses Only. This action is a result of Drought that occurred 1/1/2021-9/20/2021, and includes the primary Pauma and Yuima Tribal Lands and the contiguous County of San Diego.

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is providing the enclosed information regarding this authorization. Please inform potential applicants throughout your county.

Cal OES and Small Business Declaration of Disaster

Cal OES and USDA Declaration of Disaster

USDA Notification of Loss Information

Small Business Administration Notification of Loss Information