If you went looking for WHIP+ after a hurricane or wildfire hit your crops, you probably found a dead end, and that confusion is exactly why this post exists. The Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) was a specific, one-time disaster program that has concluded. It did its job, covered its years, and closed. What matters now is knowing what replaced it and where to turn for a current disaster loss.
Here is the straight story on WHIP+, its successor, and the disaster programs that are actually open today.
What WHIP+ was, and why it is gone
WHIP+ provided disaster payments for crop, tree, bush, and vine losses caused by hurricanes, wildfires, and related qualifying events. It covered losses in 2017, 2018, and 2019, and it could pay up to a high share of the expected value of the lost production for producers in eligible counties.
The key thing to understand: WHIP+ was tied to those specific loss years. It was not a permanent, always-on program. Once it covered its window and paid out, it concluded. So if you have a disaster loss today, WHIP+ is not the program, and any page telling you to apply for it is out of date.
What replaced it: SDRP
The successor vehicle for major, ad hoc disaster losses is the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP). SDRP was set up to cover crop and related losses from more recent disaster years, specifically 2023 and 2024 losses, and it carried an application deadline of April 30, 2026.
If you are reading this after that date, that particular SDRP window has closed. That is the nature of these supplemental programs: Congress funds disaster relief for specific loss years, USDA stands up a program to deliver it, sets a deadline, and the program winds down once claims are in. There is not a permanent “WHIP+” desk waiting for your next storm. For the current status of SDRP and any successor disaster relief, check the USDA disaster assistance pages.
The disaster programs that are always there
The ad hoc programs come and go, but USDA runs a standing set of disaster and safety-net programs you can rely on year to year. These are the ones to know before the next event, because they do not depend on a special act of Congress:
- NAP (Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program) covers crops that federal crop insurance does not reach, paying on a share of expected production when disaster strikes. It is the standing crop-loss backstop for uninsured crops. Our NAP crop coverage guide walks through it.
- ELAP and LFP cover livestock, honeybee, and farm-raised fish losses, and grazing losses from drought and fire. These are permanent, rolling programs. See our livestock disaster payments breakdown.
- Federal crop insurance is the primary tool for insurable crops, a separate decision with its own deadlines.
- DMC (Dairy Margin Coverage) is the standing safety net for dairy, explained in our Dairy Margin Coverage guide.
The lesson from the WHIP+ story: do not count on a special disaster program existing when you need it. Get covered through the standing programs, NAP or crop insurance for crops, ELAP and LFP for livestock, so you have a floor no matter what Congress does or does not pass.
What to do after a disaster loss
- Contact your local FSA office right away. They know which programs, standing or ad hoc, apply to your specific loss and county. Our guide to finding your local NRCS and FSA office shows you how.
- Document the loss thoroughly. Dates, photos, production records, and the cause. Disaster payments live or die on documentation.
- Ask about every applicable program, not just one. A single event can trigger a standing program (NAP, ELAP, LFP) and any active supplemental relief at the same time.
- Do not wait on a special program to be announced. File under the standing programs you qualify for, and add any supplemental relief if and when it opens.
- Get covered before the next one, through NAP or crop insurance, so you are not depending on ad hoc help.
Frequently asked questions
Is WHIP+ still available? No. WHIP+ covered 2017, 2018, and 2019 losses and has concluded. It was a one-time program tied to those years, not a permanent one. For a current loss, look to the standing disaster programs or any active supplemental relief.
What replaced WHIP+? For recent major losses, the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) covered 2023 and 2024 losses, with an April 30, 2026 application deadline. Like WHIP+, it is tied to specific years and winds down once claims are in.
What disaster programs are always open? NAP for uninsured crops, ELAP and LFP for livestock and grazing losses, federal crop insurance for insurable crops, and DMC for dairy. These are standing programs you can rely on year to year.
Where do I start after a disaster? Your local FSA office. They identify which programs apply to your loss and county. Document everything and ask about every applicable program, not just one.
Should I count on a special disaster program? No. Supplemental programs like WHIP+ and SDRP depend on Congress funding specific loss years. Get covered through the standing programs so you have a floor regardless.
The bottom line
WHIP+ is gone; it covered 2017 to 2019 losses and closed. Its successor, SDRP, covered 2023 and 2024 losses with an April 30, 2026 deadline that has now passed. The real lesson is that ad hoc disaster relief is never guaranteed to be there when you need it, so lean on the standing programs, NAP or crop insurance for crops, ELAP and LFP for livestock, and start every disaster claim at your local FSA office.
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