The drought has been serious for quite a while in the Carolinas. Now it’s officially a disaster. The U.S. Department of Agriculture now labeling 82 out of the state’s 100 counties as natural disaster areas. Governor Josh Stein shared the update in an April 16 Facebook post.
Because of that designation, farmers in those counties now qualify for emergency loans and other types of disaster assistance. There’s also an online tool at farmers.gov that can help producers figure out exactly what kind of help they may be eligible for.
Meanwhile, the drought itself is widespread and intense. The latest update from the U.S. Drought Monitor, shows every part of North Carolina dealing with at least some level of drought. Even more concerning, about 95% of the state is experiencing severe, extreme, or exceptional conditions.
The USDA has declared the 2026 Drought an agricultural disaster. Here’s a list of counties eligible for help. It includes every county in the Sandhills except Columbus.
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