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.
What DHS and FEMA are doing
English
https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-helene
https://www.fema.gov/disaster/current/hurricane-helene/rumor-response
Spanish
https://www.fema.gov/es/hurricane-helenehttps://www.fema.gov/es/disaster/current/hurricane-helene/rumor-response
What the U.S. government is doing
English: https://www.usa.gov/hurricane-helene
Spanish: https://www.usa.gov/es/huracan-helene
What USDA is doing https://www.usda.gov/hurricane-helene
Past Responses
- 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.
- 2019
Incident: Hurricane Dorian
When: Sept. 3, 2019
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- On Sept. 7, 2019, FNS approved Georgia’s request to waive timely reporting of food loss to households in the counties requested. This waiver approval allows households in the affected counties to request a replacement of SNAP benefits through Oct. 3, 2019, to replace food lost due to power outages and flooding resulting from Hurricane Dorian.
- 2018
Incident: Hurricane Michael
When: Oct. 10, 2018
Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP)
- On Nov. 2, FNS approved Georgia’s request to operate a D-SNAP Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Crisp, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Laurens, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Randolph, Seminole, Sumter, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner and Worth counties starting on November 7. FNS also approved Georgia’s request to allow for the expungement of unused D-SNAP benefits 90 days after the date the benefits become available. The waiver will take effect upon approval and will remain in effect until all benefits issued for the disaster benefit period of Nov. 7, 2018, through Nov. 19, 2018, have been expunged. Look for specific information regarding D-SNAP eligibility and operations on state web pages or call the state’s D-SNAP hotline.
SW Georgia approved for Disaster SNAP
D-SNAP Hotline: 833-376-2742
If you need assistance with or a replacement of your EBT card, please call the state’s EBT customer service number at: 888-421-3281.
Child Nutrition Programs
- On Nov. 2, 2018, FNS approved Georgia's request to allow schools in Baker, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Miller, Seminole, Calhoun, Clay, Laurens, Randolph, Sumter, Tift and Turner counties to serve meals that do not meet the school lunch and breakfast program meal pattern requirements, effective Oct. 25 through Nov. 30, 2018.
- On Nov. 2, 2018, FNS approved Georgia's request to allow schools in Baker, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Miller, Seminole, Calhoun, Clay, Laurens, Randolph, Sumter, Tift and Turner counties to use the same location and count and claim school lunch and breakfast meals separately for more than one school, effective Oct. 25, 2018, through Nov. 30, 2018.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
On Oct. 19, 2018, FNS approved Georgia’s request to allow for hot foods to be purchased at SNAP authorized retailers through Nov. 17, 2018. The waiver applies to the following counties:
Baker
Crisp
DecaturDoughert
Early
GradyLee
Miller
MitchellSeminole
TerrellThomas
WorthIt also applies to the nearby counties:
Ben Hill
BrooksCalhoun
ClayCook
RandolphSumter
TiftTurner
WebsterNote: Retailers may need as much as 24-36 hours to make changes that will allow for sale of hot foods.
On Oct. 17, 2018, FNS approved Georgia’s request to waive timely reporting of food loss to households in 92 impacted counties listed below. This waiver approval will allow households in these affected counties to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits through Oct. 31, 2018.
Appling
Atkinson
Bacon
Baker
Baldwin
Ben Hill
Berrien
Bibb
Bleckley
Brantley
Brooks
Bryan
Bulloch
Burke
Calhoun
Camden
Candler
Charlton
ChathamChattahoochee
Clay
Clinch
Coffee
Colquitt
Cook
Crawford
Crisp
Decatur
Dodge
Dooly
Dougherty
Early
Echols
Effingham
Emanuel
Evans
Glascock
GlynnGrady
Hancock
Houston
Irwin
Jeff Davis
Jefferson
Jenkins
Johnson
Jones
Lanier
Laurens
Lee
Liberty
Long
Lowndes
Macon
Marion
McIntoshMiller
Mitchell
Montgomery
Muscogee
Peach
Pierce
Pulaski
Quitman
Randolph
Richmond
Schley
Screven
Seminole
Stewart
Sumter
Talbot
Tattnall
TaylorTelfair
Terrell
Thomas
Tift
Toombs
Treutlen
Turner
Twiggs
Upson
Ware
Warren
Washington
Wayne
Webster
Wheeler
Wilcox
Wilkinson
Worth- On Oct. 14, 2018, Georgia issued remaining October SNAP benefits.
- On Nov. 2, FNS approved Georgia’s request to operate a D-SNAP Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Crisp, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Laurens, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Randolph, Seminole, Sumter, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner and Worth counties starting on November 7. FNS also approved Georgia’s request to allow for the expungement of unused D-SNAP benefits 90 days after the date the benefits become available. The waiver will take effect upon approval and will remain in effect until all benefits issued for the disaster benefit period of Nov. 7, 2018, through Nov. 19, 2018, have been expunged. Look for specific information regarding D-SNAP eligibility and operations on state web pages or call the state’s D-SNAP hotline.
- 2017
Incident: Hurricane Irma
When: Sept. 8, 2017
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- FNS approved the state's request to issue automatic, mass replacements of 45 percent of September 2017 SNAP benefits to SNAP households in the following 71 counties: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Banks, Berrien, Bibb (approved on 9/24), Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Butts, Camden, Candler, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crawford, Dawson, DeKalb (approved on 9/24), Dooly, Echols, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Glynn, Greene, Habersham, Hall, Hancock, Irwin, Jackson, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jenkins, Johnson, Jones, Lanier, Lee, Long, Lowndes, Lumpkin, Macon, Mcintosh, Mitchell, Monroe, Morgan, Oglethorpe, Peach, Pickens, Pierce, Pulaski, Putnam, Rockdale, Screven, Stewart, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Telfair, Tift, Towns, Turner, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler, White, Wilcox, Wilkes and Worth. The mass replacement benefits were issued to replace food that was purchased with September 2017 SNAP benefits that was destroyed due to the disaster. Replacement benefits were automatically issued to all regular SNAP households in the affected counties, by means of an automated credit to their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. Households that had already received replacement benefits based on a signed affidavit of loss were excluded from the mass replacement process. Furthermore, if a client submitted an affidavit after receiving a mass replacement and requested an amount greater than the replacement benefit amount received, the household was only entitled to receive the difference between the requested amount and the amount previously replaced. Replacement benefits cannot exceed the maximum monthly allotment for the household.
- FNS approved the state's request to extend the time period households had to report food loss through individual affidavit. Households had until Oct. 2, 2017, to submit such affidavits to their local offices.
- Due to the approach of Hurricane Irma, Georgia issued all remaining September 2017 SNAP benefits, early, on Sept. 10, 2017, to clients statewide.
Georgia Department of Children and Family Services' Food Stamps' Website
Child Nutrition Programs
- On October 20, FNS approved Georgia’s request to extend Hurricane Irma-related waivers in 4 counties that were set to expire on October 20. These waivers applied to schools and residential child care institutions that operated the NSLP and SBP. The 4 counties were: Camden, Chatham, Glynn and Hall counties. These waivers were previously approved by FNS on September 16 and 29. All students in these 4 counties in GA could continue to receive free school meals through the National School Lunch Program through October 31. Schools will be reimbursed at the free rate for all meals served.
- On September 29, FNS approved requests from Georgia to extend previously approved flexibilities of the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program to school food authorities (SFAs) in 6 counties (Camden, Chatham, Glynn, Habersham, Hall and White). Specifically:
-- All students in affected disaster areas in Georgia continued to receive free school meals through the National School Lunch Program through October 20. Schools will be reimbursed at the free rate for all meals served.
--Schools were able to serve meals through October 20 that did not meet the menu planning or meal pattern requirements for schools and institutions in the affected areas.- On September 16, FNS approved requests from the state to provide flexibilities to school food authorities (SFAs) of the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program in 35 counties (Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Chattahoochee, Chattooga, Clinch, Coffee, DeKalb, Echols, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Habersham, Hall, Jeff Davis, Jenkins, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Pierce, Screven, Tattnall, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware and Wayne) as well as Gainesville City. Specifically:
-- All students in affected disaster areas in Georgia were able to enjoy free school meals through the National School Lunch Program through Sept. 29, 2017.
-- Schools were able to serve meals through Sept. 29, 2017, that did not meet the menu planning or meal pattern requirements for schools and institutions in the affected areas.
-- Schools had the option to operate the NSLP's Seamless Summer Option during the school year when schools had unanticipated closures.
-- Schools not directly impacted by the hurricane may have used their commodity foods to provide plated meals to shelters or other school food service operations.
-- Other flexibilities included: allowing two schools to utilize the same location and claim meals separately through NSLP and SBP; and several waivers and extensions of timelines related to administrative and operational activities.Incident: Tornadoes and Severe Weather
When: Jan. 21, 2017
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- FNS approved the state’s request for timely reporting of SNAP food losses and requests for replacement benefits in the following counties: Berrien, Cook, Crisp, Doughertry, Turner and Wilcox. Affected households in the above counties had until Feb. 11, 2017, to report SNAP food loss and request replacement benefits due to the tornadoes and severe weather that impacted the area from January 21 though January 22. Replacements were authorized for the amount of the loss, not to exceed the monthly allotment for the household.
Georgia Department of Children and Family Services' Food Stamps' Website
If you think you may be eligible for disaster food assistance in your state, please contact your local state office.