North Carolina Disaster Nutrition Assistance

Incident: Situation of Distress - Power Outage

When: Dec. 3, 2022

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• On Dec. 14, 2022, FNS approved the North Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement for replacement of food purchased with SNAP benefits and Emergency Allotment (EA) benefits that was lost as a result of power outages due vandalism to an electrical substation that occurred on Dec. 3, 2022. The waiver request applies to residents of Moore County. The waiver is in effect through Jan. 3, 2023.
• On Dec. 14, 2022, FNS approved the North Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) request to issue mass replacements to impacted households. This waiver approval allows households to receive replacement of benefits, as stated in the approval, in Moore County due to power outages as a result of vandalism to an electrical substation that occurred on Dec. 3, 2022.

Past Responses

2021

Incident: Tropical Storm Fred

When: Aug. 16, 2021

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

For more information about North Carolina D-SNAP residents can visit https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/social-services

• On Sept. 29, 2021, FNS approved North Carolina's request to operate D-SNAP in three counties in response to the impact of Tropical Storm Fred, which caused flooding and power outages on Aug. 16, 2021. On Sept. 8, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden issued a major disaster declaration with authorization for federal individual assistance for the following counties: Buncombe, Haywood, and Transylvania. The state agency will begin the 4-day application period on Monday, October 4 and accept applications through Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021.
• On Sept. 29, 2021, FNS approved North Carolina's request to operate D-SNAP in three counties in response to the impact of Tropical Storm Fred, which caused flooding and power outages on Aug. 16, 2021. On Sept. 8, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden issued a major disaster declaration with authorization for federal individual assistance for the following counties: Buncombe, Haywood, and Transylvania. The state agency will begin the 4-day application period on Monday, October 4 and accept applications through Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021.
• On Sept. 16, 2021, FNS approved North Carolina's 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 counties of Buncombe, Haywood and Transylvania. This waiver approval will allow SNAP households to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through Sept. 30, 2021, as a result of Tropical Cyclone Fred that began on Aug. 16, 2021. FNS has notified SNAP authorized retailers in the approved counties of the hot foods waiver approval. Retailers may need as much as 24-36 hours to make changes that will allow for sale of hot foods.
• On Sept. 15, 2021, FNS approved a North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services amended request to waive timely reporting of food loss for households in Avery, Buncombe, Haywood, Madison, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey counties. This is an extension to a request originally approved on Sept. 1, 2021, and scheduled to expire on Sept. 16, 2021. This waiver approval allows impacted households to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits for food purchased with benefits that was lost as a result of power outages and related impacts of Tropical Storm Fred that began on Aug. 16, 2021. The amended waiver will be in effect through Sept. 27, 2021.
• On Aug. 31, 2021, FNS has approved the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' request to waive timely reporting of food loss for households in seven counties as a result of power outages on Aug. 16, 2021. This waiver approval allows impacted households to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits. The waiver will be in effect through Sept. 16, 2021.

 

Incident: Severe Winter Storms

When: Feb. 15, 2021

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• On March 1, 2021, FNS approved a North Carolina request to waive timely reporting of food loss for households in 27 counties. This waiver approval allows impacted households in North Carolina to make a request for the replacement of SNAP benefits through March 15, 2021.

2020

Incident: Tropical Storm Isaias-Recovery

When: Aug. 4, 2020

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• On Aug. 31, 2020, FNS approved North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services (DSS) request to issue mass replacements to impacted households in the 11 counties below. This waiver approval allows households to receive replacement of 40 percent of July SNAP benefits as a result of Hurricane Isaias and power outages that occurred on Aug. 4, 2020.
  
  Impacted counties:

  Bertie Brunswick Camden

  Gates Jones Martin

  New Hanover Onslow Pamlico

  Pender Washington

2019

Incident: Hurricane Dorian

When: Aug. 30, 2019

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• On Sept. 19, 2019, FNS approved North Carolina's request to issue mass replacements in the counties of Craven, Jones, and Pamlico. This waiver approval allows households in these affected counties to receive replacement of 30 percent of the August SNAP benefit. These replacement SNAP benefits allow households to replace food lost due to power outages and flooding resulting from Hurricane Dorian.
• On Sept. 14, 2019, FNS approved North Carolina's request to issue mass replacements in the counties of Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Tyrrell, and Washington allowing households in these affected counties to receive replacement of 30 percent of the August SNAP benefit. These replacement SNAP benefits allow households to replace food lost due to power outages and flooding resulting from Hurricane Dorian.
• On Sept. 7, 2019, FNS approved North Carolina's request for timely household reporting of food loss for the state. This waiver approval will allow households to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits through Sept. 30, 2019. These replacement SNAP benefits will allow households to replace food lost due to power outages and flooding resulting from Hurricane Dorian.
• On Sept. 6, 2019, FNS approved North Carolina for early issuance of September benefits to SNAP households that normally receive their benefits between the ninth and twenty first of the month. The early issuance of benefits will allow the state to respond to the needs of families who are preparing for and recovering from severe weather.

2018

Incident: Hurricane Michael

When: Oct. 10, 2018

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• On Oct. 19, 2018, FNS approved the North Carolina request for timely household reporting of food loss for North Carolina. This waiver approval allowed households to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits through Oct. 31, 2018. These replacement SNAP benefits allowed households to replace food lost as a result of Hurricane Michael.

 

Incident: Hurricane Florence

When: Sept. 7, 2018

Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP)

• On October 30, FNS approved North Carolina's request to operate a D-SNAP in three additional counties (Chatham, Durham, and Guilford) starting on November 1. Look for specific information regarding D-SNAP eligibility and operations on state web pages or call the state's SNAP hotline.
  • NCDHHS- After Hurricane Florence: Help Buying Food
  • SNAP Hotline: 866-719-0141
  • If you need assistance with or a replacement of your EBT card, please call the state's EBT customer service number at: 888-622-7328.

• On Oct. 17, FNS approved North Carolina's request to expand D-SNAP operations in three additional counties (Anson, Orange, and Union) pin response to the impact of Hurricane Florence. Find specific information regarding D-SNAP eligibility and operations, or call the state's SNAP hotline at 866-719-0141. If you need assistance with or a replacement of your North Carolina EBT card, please call the state's EBT customer service number at 888-622-7328.
• On September 28, FNS approved North Carolina's request to expand D-SNAP operations in one additional (Greene) county in response to the impact of Hurricane Florence.
• On September 25, FNS approved North Carolina's request to expand D-SNAP operations in 9 additional counties in response to the impact of Hurricane Florence:

  Hoke Hyde Johnson

  Lee Moore

  Pitt Richmond

  Scotland Wilson

• On September 23, FNS approved North Carolina's request to operate a D-SNAP in 18 counties.

  Beaufort Bladen Brunswick Carteret Columbus

  Craven Cumberland Duplin Harnett Jones

  Lenoir New Hanover Onslow Pamlico Pender

  Robeson Sampson Wayne

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• On Oct. 17, 2018, FNS approved North Carolina's request to extend SNAP cases that are scheduled to expire in October and November 2018 for 6 months. This approval applies to the following 3 counties: Anson, Orange, and Union.
• On Sept. 26, 2018, FNS approved North Carolina's request to issue mass replacements for residents in certain counties that suffered food losses resulting from power outages and flooding caused by Hurricane Florence. This waiver allows the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to automatically replace 60 percent of the September 2018 SNAP benefit for households in the following counties:

  Hoke Hyde

  Lee Moore

  Richmond

  Scotland

• On Sept. 23, 2018, FNS approved North Carolina's request to issue mass replacements for residents in certain counties that suffered food losses resulting from power outages and flooding caused by Hurricane Florence. This waiver allows the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to automatically replace 60 percent of the September 2018 SNAP benefit for households in the following counties:

  Bladen Brunswick Carteret Columbus

  Craven Duplin Jones Harnett

  New Hanover Onslow Pamlico Pender

  Robeson Sampson

• On Sept. 19, 2018, FNS approved North Carolina's request to extend certification periods and waive periodic reporting requirements for ongoing SNAP households in 18 counties. The approved request allows the state agency to extend SNAP cases that are scheduled to expire in September and October 2018 for 6 months. On September 26, the state requested to expand this waiver to an additional 9 counties. On September 28, FNS modified this approval for use in all counties throughout the state. The state agency will allow each county the flexibility to elect to operate this waiver.
• On Sept. 16, 2018, FNS approved North Carolina's request to allow for hot foods to be purchased at SNAP authorized retailers through October 31, 2018. The waiver applies to North Carolina. Note, retailers may need as much as 24-36 hours to make changes that will allow for sale of hot foods. Please set appropriate expectations when messaging hot foods availability to SNAP participants.
• On Sept. 16, 2018, FNS approved the North Carolina request for timely household reporting of food loss for North Carolina. This waiver approval will allow households to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits through Oct. 15, 2018. These replacement SNAP benefits will allow households to replace food lost as a result of Hurricane Florence.

Child Nutrition Programs

• On November 28, FNS extended an approval for meal pattern flexibilities in three counties. This allows schools in Craven, Onslow, and Pender counties to continue to serve meals that do not meet the school breakfast and lunch meal pattern requirements through Dec. 31, 2018.
• On November 28, FNS extended a disaster approval which allows schools in Craven, Onslow, and Pender counties to continue to provide school meals to students at no cost and claim all meals at the free reimbursement rate through Dec. 31, 2018.
• On October 19, FNS extended two disaster approvals for certain counties in North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Florence. Schools in Craven, Duplin, Onslow, Pender, and Robeson counties may continue to serve meals that do not meet the school breakfast and lunch meal pattern requirements through November 30, 2018. Schools in Craven, Duplin, Onslow, and Pender counties may continue to provide school meals to students at no cost and claim all meals at the free reimbursement rate through Nov. 30, 2018.
• On October 1, FNS approved North Carolina's request to assist Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) institutions and facilities impacted by Hurricane Florence by waiving meal pattern requirement for the 28 counties with a Major Disaster Declaration in North Carolina. The approval is effective from Sept. 14 to Oct. 31, 2018.
• On September 27, FNS issued three approvals for disaster waivers and flexibilities to assist schools and summer feeding sites in North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Florence.
  • Schools in nine counties (Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Pitt, Richmond, Scotland and Wilson) are permitted to:
    • Summer feeding sites operated by the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina (FBCEN) located in counties covered by FEMA's Major Disaster Declaration (MDD) are approved for extensions for two waivers, now effective through October 19 (previously set to expire September 30):
      • These waiver approvals also apply to FBCEN feeding sites located in the nine new counties included in the MDD amendment mentioned above (total of 27 counties).
  • Schools in five counties (Buncombe, Caswell, Nash/Rocky Mount, Person and Martin) not covered by FEMA's MDD are approved to continue to serve meals that do not meet the school lunch and school breakfast meal pattern requirements, through October 12. This targeted and limited extension is based on continued challenges accessing adequate food supplies in these five counties as a result of Hurricane Florence. For all other counties in NC that are not covered by FEMA's MDD, approval to serve school meals that did not meet the meal pattern requirements expired on September 30.
    • Serve meals that do not meet the school lunch, school breakfast, and summer meal pattern requirements, through October 19.
    • Provide school meals at no charge and claim all meals at the free rate, through October 31.
    • Allow children at summer feeding sites to take meals home to eat, if staying on site is not an option, through October 19.
    • Serve meals that do not meet the summer meal pattern requirements.
    • Allow children at summer feeding sites to take meals home to eat, if staying on site is not an option.

• On Sept. 19, 2018 FNS approved a waiver request from North Carolina to allow school food authorities to operate Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sites at both school and non-school sites. Due to difficulties accessing appropriate foods, FNS is also allowing SFAs operating the SFSP in the impacted areas to be reimbursed for meals that do not meet the meal pattern requirements. The waiver also allows children at these SFSP sites to take meals home to eat, if staying on site is not an option. This waiver applies to the 18 counties approved for individual assistance (IA) through Oct. 19, 2018.
• On Sept. 17, 2018, FNS approved North Carolina's request for disaster flexibilities to assist schools impacted by Hurricane Florence. This applies to schools that operate the school lunch and school breakfast programs throughout North Carolina. Schools throughout North Carolina may have served and received reimbursement for lunch and breakfast meals that did not meet the meal pattern requirements, effective through Sept. 30, 2018.
• On Sept. 17, 2018, FNS approved North Carolina's request to provide flexibility to schools in what they can serve students in the federal school meal programs, given the challenges of preparing specific foods during this period. Therefore, schools will be able to serve meals through Oct. 19, 2018, that do not meet the menu planning or meal pattern requirements for schools and institutions in the 18 counties in North Carolina included in the Major Disaster Declaration. All students in these 18 counties in NC are eligible to receive free school meals through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs through Oct. 31, 2018, as well. Schools will be reimbursed at the free rate for all meals served.
• The state may designate schools and other facilities as emergency shelters, which can operate under the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

• North Carolina WIC may replace participant food benefits for the month of September that were damaged or stolen during Hurricane Florence. Participants must sign a statement attesting to the fact that their food benefits have been damaged, destroyed, or stolen as a result of a disaster. Please contact the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services 1-800-367-2229 for further information.

 

Incident: Tornado and Severe Storm

When: April 15, 2018

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• On May 21, 2018, FNS approved North Carolina's request to operate a Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) in Guilford County for one additional day, through May 22, 2018, to allow impacted individuals additional time to apply for benefits.
• On May 15, 2018, FNS approved a North Carolina request for a D-SNAP in Guliford and Rockingham Counties due to the impact of a tornado and severe storms that occurred in April 2018. The D-SNAP was approved to operate May 17-21, 2018. FNS also approved the state's request for a 1-month disaster supplement to all eligible ongoing SNAP households that resided in certain impacted areas of the approved counties and requested and received replacement benefits. Ongoing SNAP households that were already receiving the maximum monthly allotment were not eligible for disaster supplements. Disaster supplements provided for equity in disaster assistance, as supplements bring ongoing households up to their maximum allotment based on household size.
• On May 21, 2018, FNS approved the state's request to extend the 10-day reporting timeline by one additional day in Guilford County so that ongoing SNAP households had until May 22, 2018 to report SNAP food loss and request replacement benefits.
• On May 15, 2018, FNS approved a request to extend the 10-day reporting timeline so that ongoing SNAP households in Guliford and Rockingham counties had until May 21, 2018 to report SNAP food loss and request replacement benefits.