USDA Secures 20 Million Pounds of Additional Commodities for Hurricane Relief

USDA SECURES 20 MILLION POUNDS OF ADDITIONAL COMMODITIES FOR HURRICANE RELIEF

WASHINGTON Sept. 23, 2005 - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today said USDA has purchased more than 20 million pounds of canned meat, poultry, fruit and vegetables in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and as Hurricane Rita nears.

"USDA continues to work with states in the Gulf region and beyond to ensure that food and other needs for evacuees are met," said Johanns. "Even as we are positioned to assist with Rita, we remain in constant contact with our federal, state and local counterparts to meet the immediate and long-term needs of those affected by the hurricanes."

About four million pounds of this food will restock USDA and state supplies that were used for Katrina relief. About 16 million pounds of this food will be used for Katrina and Rita disaster relief.

Additionally, USDA has already worked with Texas officials to prepare food stamp waivers in anticipation of potential needs within the state beginning this weekend. Also, USDA is extending streamlined services, put in place for Katrina evacuees, for child nutrition and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, better known as WIC, programs.

On Sept. 5, USDA earmarked $50 million dollars to provide emergency food assistance to Hurricane Katrina survivors. To date, $25 million of those funds have been spent on emergency commodity purchases.

Additional information and updates about USDA's hurricane relief efforts are posted daily on the Web site at www.usda.gov. For more information about making contributions for disaster assistance go to www.FirstGov.gov and www.DisasterHelp.gov.

http://www.usda.gov