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Georgia Disaster Nutrition Assistance

There are no active disaster response efforts.

Past Responses

2024

Incident: Hurricane Helene

When: Sept. 24, 2024

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • On Oct. 18, 2024, FNS approved the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) request to modify the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) schedule and to operate in five (5) additional counties due to the impact of Hurricane Helene that began on Sept. 24, 2024. President Joseph R. Biden issued a Major Disaster Declaration with Federal Individual Assistance on Oct. 1, 2024, and subsequent amendments through Oct. 16, 2024, designating Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Fulton, Glascock, Glynn, Hancock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, McDuffie, McIntosh, Montgomery, Newton, Pierce, Rabun, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, and Wheeler counties as eligible for assistance. The initial waiver was approved on Oct. 14, 2024, and permitted the state to operate D-SNAP in four (4) phases and limited approval to the 50 counties included in the phases. The modification adjusts the schedule to change D-SNAP operations for Bulloch and Evans counties from phase one to phases four. It also approves D-SNAP operations for Dodge, McIntosh, Taliaferro, Thomas, and Warren counties. This increases the total to 55 counties approved for D-SNAP operations.

The state will operate D-SNAP in four (4) phases and this approval is limited to the counties included in the phases.

  • In phase one, the state will accept applications for Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, Liberty, and Long counties for six consecutive days Oct. 21, 2024, through Oct. 26, 2024.
  • In phase two, the state will accept applications for Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Camden, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Echols, Glynn, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, McIntosh, Pierce, Thomas, Tift and Ware counties for six non-consecutive days beginning on Oct. 29, 2024, through Nov. 4, 2024. The state will not accept applications on Nov. 3, 2024.
  • In phase three, the state will accept applications for Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, Warren, and Washington counties for six non-consecutive days beginning on Nov. 7, 2024, through Nov. 14, 2024. The state will not accept applications on Nov. 10, 2024, and Nov. 11, 2024.
  • In phase four, the state will accept applications for Appling, Bulloch, Candler, Dodge, Emanuel, Evans, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne and Wheeler counties for 6 consecutive days beginning on Nov. 18, 2024, through Nov. 23, 2024.
  • On Oct. 16, 2024, FNS approved the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) amended request to waive the statutory definition of "food" under Section 3(k)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended and accompanying regulations at 7 CFR 271.2. The initial waiver was approved on Oct. 8, 2024, and allows SNAP households in Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baldwin, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bleckley, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Franklin, Glascock, Glynn, Habersham, Hancock, Hart, Henry, Irwin, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lamar, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, Madison, McDuffie, McIntosh, Mitchell, Montgomery, Morgan, Monroe, Newton, Oglethorpe, Pierce, Rabun, Richmond, Rockdale, Screven, Spalding, Stephens, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Towns, Treutlen, Turner, Twiggs, Walton, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wilcox, Wilkes, Wilkinson, Wheeler, and Worth counties to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through Nov. 7, 2024, in order to increase access to food after power outages as a result of Hurricane Helene that began Sept. 24, 2024. This amended waiver approval includes Fulton County and increases the total to 85 counties. The waiver is in effect through Nov. 23, 2024, for all approved counties.
  • On Oct. 14, 2024, FNS approved the Georgia DHS request to operate Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) in 50 counties due to the impact of Hurricane Helene that began on Sept. 24, 2024. President Joseph R. Biden issued a Major Disaster Declaration with Federal Individual Assistance on Oct. 1, 2024, and subsequent amendments through Oct. 11, 2024, designating Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Fulton, Glascock, Glynn, Hancock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, McDuffie, Montgomery, Newton, Pierce, Rabun, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne and Wheeler counties as eligible for assistance.

The state will operate D-SNAP in four (4) phases and this approval is limited to the counties included in the phases.

  • In phase one, the state will accept applications for Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Liberty and Long counties for six consecutive days Oct. 21, 2024, through Oct. 26, 2024.
  • In phase two, the state will accept applications for Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Camden, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Echols, Glynn, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift and Ware counties for six non-consecutive days beginning on Oct. 29, 2024, through Nov. 4, 2024. The state will not accept applications on Nov. 2, 2024, and Nov. 3, 2024.
  • In phase three, the state will accept applications for Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Screven and Washington counties for six non-consecutive days beginning on Nov. 7, 2024, through Nov. 14, 2024. The state will not accept applications on Nov. 10, 2024, and Nov. 11, 2024.
  • In phase four, the state will accept applications for Appling, Candler, Emanuel, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne and Wheeler counties for 6 consecutive days beginning on Nov. 18, 2024, through Nov. 23, 2024.
  • On Oct. 11, 2024, FNS approved the Georgia DHS request to issue mass replacements to impacted households. This waiver approval allows households to receive replacement of SNAP benefits as stated in the approval due to power outages and flooding as a result of Hurricane Helene that began on Sept. 26, 2024. The waiver approval applies to Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bleckley, Brantley, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Glynn, Hancock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, McDuffie, McIntosh, Montgomery, Pierce, Rabun, Richmond, Stephens, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Telfair, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wheeler, Wilcox and Wilkes counties.
  • On Oct. 10, 2024, FNS approved Georgia DHS request to extend certification periods and waive periodic reporting requirements for ongoing SNAP households statewide scheduled to expire in September 2024, October 2024, and November 2024 for up to 6 months due to the impact of Hurricane Helene that began on Sept. 24, 2024.
  • On Oct. 8, 2024, FNS approved the Georgia DHS request to waive the statutory definition of "food" under Section 3(k)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended and accompanying regulations at 7 CFR 271.2. This waiver approval allows SNAP households in 84 counties: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baldwin, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bleckley, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Franklin, Glascock, Glynn, Habersham, Hancock, Hart, Henry, Irwin, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lamar, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, Madison, McDuffie, McIntosh, Mitchell, Montgomery, Morgan, Monroe, Newton, Oglethorpe, Pierce, Rabun, Richmond, Rockdale, Screven, Spalding, Stephens, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Towns, Treutlen, Turner, Twiggs, Walton, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wilcox, Wilkes, Wilkinson, Wheeler and Worth to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through Nov. 7, 2024, in order to increase access to food after power outages as a result of Hurricane Helene that began Sept. 24, 2024. Retailers may need as much as 24-36 hours to make changes that will allow for sale of hot foods.
  • On Oct. 3, 2024, FNS approved the Georgia DHS request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement for food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages, due to Hurricane Helene, beginning on Sept. 26, 2024. The waiver applies to Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bleckley, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Glynn, Hancock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, McDuffie, McIntosh, Montgomery, Pierce, Rabun, Richmond, Screven, Stephens, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Telfair, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wheeler, Wilcox and Wilkes counties. The waiver is in effect through Oct. 25, 2024.

Child Nutrition Programs

  • On Oct. 1, 2024, FNS approved the Georgia Department of Education (DOE) request for flexibilities to National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) throughout the state. Under the waiver approval, program operators of NSLP, SBP and SSO may temporarily serve meals and afterschool snacks for reimbursement that do not meet the meal pattern requirements. Additionally, NSLP, SBP and SSO may serve meals in a non-congregate setting, allow parent pick-up, adjust the time of meal service, and are not required to use offer versus serve. These waivers are approved through Oct. 31, 2024, with the expectation that they will only be implemented by program operators when meal service is limited or negatively impacted due to Hurricane Helene.
2023

Incident: Hurricane Idalia

When: Aug. 28, 2023

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • On Sept. 29, 2023, FNS approved the Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) request to issue mass replacements to impacted households. This waiver approval allows households to receive replacement of benefits as stated in the approval due to power outages as a result of Hurricane Idalia that occurred on Aug. 30, 2023. The waiver request applies to the 17 counties of Appling, Atkinson, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Glynn, Irwin, Long, Lowndes, McIntosh, Pierce and Ware.
  • On Sept. 12, 2023, FNS approved the Georgia DFCS request to amend the 10-day reporting requirement for food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages due to Hurricane Idalia that began on Aug. 30, 2023. The initial waiver approved on Sept. 11, 2023, applied to the residents of the following 30 counties: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Evans, Glynn, Grady, Lanier, Liberty, Long, Lowndes, McIntosh, Pierce, Tattnall, Thomas, Tift, Ware and Wayne. This amended waiver includes Echols County and is in effect through Sept. 19, 2023.
  • On Sept. 11, 2023, FNS approved the Georgia DFCS request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement for food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages due to Hurricane Idalia that began on Aug. 30, 2023. The waiver request applies to residents of Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Evans, Glynn, Grady, Lanier, Liberty, Long, Lowndes, McIntosh, Pierce, Tattnall, Thomas, Tift, Ware and Wayne counties and is in effect through Sept. 19, 2023.

Child Nutrition Programs

  • On Aug. 30, 2023, FNS approved the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) request for a waiver relating to the child nutrition program during unanticipated school closures throughout school year 2023-24. Under the waiver approval, the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) may serve meals in a non-congregate setting, adjust the time of meal service, allow parent and guardian meal pick up, and allow service of meals at school sites due to the unanticipated closures. Also under the waiver approval, the at-risk afterschool component of CACFP may serve meals in a non-congregate setting, adjust the time of meal service, allow parent pick up, and an educational or enrichment activity is not required. FNS expects that flexibilities and exceptions provided will only be implemented by program operators when meal service is limited or negatively impacted due to unanticipated school closures.
  • On Aug. 29, 2023, FNS approved the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) request for flexibilities relating to child nutrition program operations. Under the waiver approval, program operators of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) may serve meals in a non-congregate setting, allow parent pick-up, adjust the time of meal service and allow service of meals at school sites due to the unanticipated closures. Additionally, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) may serve meals in a non-congregate setting, allow parent pick-up, adjust the time of meal service, and are not required to use offer versus serve. FNS expects that flexibilities and exceptions provided will only be implemented by program operators when meal service is limited or negatively impacted due to the ongoing natural disasters and recovery efforts.

Incident: Severe Storms

When: Jan. 12, 2023

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • On Jan. 27, 2023, FNS approved the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) request to extend certification periods and waive periodic reporting requirements for ongoing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households in Butts, Henry, Jasper, Meriwether, Newton, Spalding and Troup counties for up to six (6) months due to the impact of severe storms and tornadoes that began on Jan. 12, 2023.
  • On Jan. 24, 2023, FNS approved the Georgia Department of Human Services request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement for replacement of food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages due to severe storms and tornadoes that began on Jan. 12, 2023. The waiver request applies to Butts, Henry, Jasper, Meriwether, Newton, Spalding and Troup counties in the State of Georgia. The wavier is in effect through Feb. 1, 2023.
2020

Incident: Spring Storms

When: April 13, 2020

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • On May 5, 2020, FNS has approved Georgia’s request to waive timely reporting of food loss for replacement of food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of tornados, severe weather and power outages that began on April 13, 2020, through April 23, 2020. The waiver will allow affected households in 38 counties to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits through May 8, 2020.
Page updated: November 26, 2024