Chattooga County has been named a primary natural disaster area due to ongoing drought conditions, as state and federal officials continue to respond to dry weather impacting Georgia cities and rural communities.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture, working with the USDA, announced that 20 additional counties — including Chattooga — have been added to the federal disaster declaration. That brings the total to 146 counties statewide now designated as primary natural disaster areas. The designation allows eligible farm operators to apply for Farm Service Agency emergency loan assistance.

At the same time, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division has issued a Level 1 drought response for the state. According to the Chattooga County Public Service Superintendent, outdoor watering for landscaping is allowed daily, but not between 10 AM and 4 PM, with watering permitted only during morning and evening hours. Officials are urging residents to conserve water as dry conditions persist.

State Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said the ongoing drought continues to create challenges for farm families, increasing costs and uncertainty during a critical time of the year. The expanded disaster declaration is intended to provide additional resources to help farmers manage those impacts.

Nearby counties including Dade and Gordon were also named as primary disaster areas, while Floyd and Walker counties were listed as contiguous counties eligible for assistance.