Incident: Tornado
When: March 24, 2023
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- On April 26, 2023, FNS approved the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) extension request to waive the statutory definition of "food" under Section 3(k)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended, and companion regulations at 7 CFR 271.2. The waiver applies to the following 13 counties: Carroll, Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Lee, Leflore, Lowndes, Monroe, Montgomery, Sharkey, Sunflower, Washington, and Yazoo. This waiver approval will allow SNAP households to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through May 28, 2023, in order to increase access to food after power outages as a result of severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes. Retailers may need as much as 24-36 hours to make changes that will allow for sale of hot foods.
- On April 12, 2023, FNS approved the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) request to operate Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) in six counties due to the impact of severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes that began on March 24, 2023. President Joseph R. Biden issued a major disaster declaration designating Carroll, Humphreys, Monroe and Sharkey counties as eligible for federal individual assistance on March 26, 2023. Additional amendments were issued in March to designate Montgomery and Panola counties as eligible for federal individual assistance. The state will operate D-SNAP in two phases. In phase one, Montgomery County will accept applications for five consecutive days beginning on April 17, 2023, through April 21, 2023. Carroll, Humphreys and Sharkey counties will accept applications for five consecutive days beginning on April 18, 2023, through April 22, 2023. In phase two, Monroe and Panola counties will accept applications for five consecutive days beginning on April 26, 2023, through April 30, 2023.
- On April 6, 2023, FNS approved Mississippi Department of Human Services 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 and structural damage as a result of an EF-4 tornado that occurred on March 24-25, 2023. The waiver request applies to the counties of Carroll, Humphreys, Montgomery and Sharkey.
- On March 30, 2023, FNS approved the Mississippi Department of Human Services (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 companion regulations at 7 CFR 271.2. The waiver applies to the following 13 counties: Carroll, Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Lee, Leflore, Lowndes, Monroe, Montgomery, Sharkey, Sunflower, Washington and Yazoo. This waiver approval allows SNAP households to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through April 28, 2023, in order to increase access to food after power outages as a result of severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes. Retailers may need as much as 24-36 hours to make changes that will allow for sale of hot foods.
- On March 29, 2023, FNS approved the Mississippi Department of Human Services (DHS) 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 an EF-4 tornado that began March 24, 2023, through March 25, 2023. The waiver request applies to the six counties of Carroll, Holmes, Humphreys, Monroe, Montgomery and Sharkey. The waiver is in effect through April 24, 2023.
Past Responses
- 2021
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Incident: Hurricane Ida
When: Aug. 29, 2021
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- On Sept. 5, 2021, FNS approved the Mississippi Department of Human Services request to waive timely reporting of food loss for households in 38 counties. This waiver approval allows impacted households to make a request for replacement of regular SNAP benefits, as well as August 2021 SNAP Emergency Allotments issued on Aug. 3, 2021, for food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages from Hurricane Ida that began on Aug. 29, 2021. The waiver will be in effect through Sept. 20, 2021.
- 2020
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Incident: Hurricane Zeta
When: Oct. 28, 2020
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- On Nov. 5, 2020, FNS approved Mississippi's request to waive requirements for timely reporting of food loss for households in the thirteen counties listed below. This waiver approval allows households to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits through Nov. 27, 2020. These replacement benefits allow households to replace food lost as a result of Hurricane Zeta and power outages that began on Oct. 28, 2020.
Impacted counties:
Clarke, Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jones, Lamar, Pearl River, Perry, Stone, and Wayne counties.
Incident: Tornado
When: April 12, 2020
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- FNS has approved the Mississippi Department of Human Service's April 17, 2020, request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement under SNAP for replacement of food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of severe tornadoes that occurred on April 12, 2020. The waiver will allow affected households to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits through May 4, 2020.
Incident: Flooding
When: Feb. 10, 2020
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- On Feb. 26, 2020, FNS approved Mississippi's request to waive timely reporting of food loss for households in the counties requested. This waiver approval allows households in the affected counties of Attala, Carroll, Chickasaw, Claiborne, Clay, Copiah, Greene, Grenada, Hinds, Holmes, Humphreys, Leake, Leflore, Madison, Quitman, Rankin, Warren, Washington, Wilkinson and Yazoo to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits through March 11, 2020. These replacement SNAP benefits allows households to replace food lost due to power outages and flooding caused by severe weather that began on Feb. 10, 2020.
- On Nov. 5, 2020, FNS approved Mississippi's request to waive requirements for timely reporting of food loss for households in the thirteen counties listed below. This waiver approval allows households to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits through Nov. 27, 2020. These replacement benefits allow households to replace food lost as a result of Hurricane Zeta and power outages that began on Oct. 28, 2020.
- 2017
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Incident: Tornadoes and Severe Weather
When: Jan. 21, 2017
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- On Jan. 30, 2017, FNS approved the state's request to extend the amount of time SNAP recipients in Lauderdale County had to request food purchased with SNAP benefits that was destroyed due to tornadoes, high winds and hail. SNAP recipients in Lauderdale County had until Feb. 11, 2017, to report their food losses and request replacement SNAP benefits from their local offices. Replacements were authorized for the amount of loss, not to exceed the monthly allotment for the household.
Mississippi Disaster Response Website
If you think you may be eligible for disaster food assistance in your state, please contact your local state office.