Tennessee Disaster Nutrition Assistance

Incident: Tropical Storm Helene

When: Sept. 26, 2024

Child Nutrition Programs

• On Oct. 30, 2024, FNS approved the Tennessee Department of Education (DOE) request to extend the provided operational flexibilities in the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) throughout the state of Tennessee, due to the impacts of Tropical Storm Helene. Under the SSO program, operators in Tennessee are approved to temporarily serve meals and afterschool snacks for reimbursement that do not meet the meal pattern requirements when impacted by Hurricane Helene, originally through Oct. 31, 2024. Under this waiver approval, SSO program operators may continue to serve meals in a non-congregate setting and adjust the time of meal service. This waiver approval extends the waiver through Nov. 30, 2024, with the expectation that they will only be implemented by program operators when meal service is limited or negatively impacted due to Tropical Storm Helene.
• On Oct. 25, 2024, FNS approved the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) request to waive Section 13A(b)(1)(A) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 USC 1762(b)(1)(A)), and accompanying regulations at 7 CFR 292.2 and 292.16(i)(1) to temporarily allow households participating in the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (Summer EBT) program to purchase hot foods with program benefits at authorized retailers in Tennessee. The waiver approval allows Summer EBT households in Carter, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington to purchase hot foods through Nov. 30, 2024.
• On Oct. 1, 2024, FNS approved the Tennessee DOE request to provide operational flexibilities in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Summer Breakfast Program (SBP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) throughout the state of Tennessee, due to the impacts of Tropical Storm Helene. Under NSLP and SSO, program operators in Tennessee are approved to temporarily serve meals and afterschool snacks for reimbursement that do not meet the meal pattern requirements when impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. Also 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, and adjust the time of meal service. 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 Tropical Storm Helene.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• On Oct. 11, 2024, FNS approved Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) request to operate Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) in eight (8) counties in response to the impact of Tropical Storm Helene that began on Sept. 26, 2024. Due to these incidents, President Joseph R. Biden issued a Major Disaster Declaration with Federal Individual Assistance for Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington on Oct. 2, 2024. The state plans to operate the D-SNAP Oct. 21, 2024, through Oct. 25, 2024.
• On Oct. 9, 2024, FNS approved the Tennessee 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 the counties of Carter, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through Nov. 30, 2024, in order to increase access to food after power outages as a result of Tropical Storm Helene, beginning on Sept. 26, 2024. Retailers may need as much as 24-36 hours to make changes that will allow for sale of hot foods.
• On Oct. 7, 2024, FNS approved the Tennessee DHS request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement for food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages from Tropical Storm Helene beginning on Sept. 26, 2024. The waiver applies to residents of Carter, Clay, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties. The waiver is in effect through Oct. 28, 2024.
• On Oct. 4, 2024, FNS approved the Tennessee 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 Tropical Storm Helene that began on Sept. 26, 2024. The waiver approval applies to Carter, Clay, Grainger, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties.

Past Responses

2023

Incident: Severe Storms

When: Mar. 31, 2023

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• On May 3, 2023, FNS approved the Tennessee Department of Human Services’ request to operate D-SNAP in 10 counties in response to the impact of heavy rain, powerful thunderstorms, and tornadoes that began on March 31, 2023. On April 7, 2023, President Biden issued a major disaster declaration with federal individual assistance for the ten (10) counties of Cannon, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Lewis, Macon, McNairy, Rutherford, Tipton, and Wayne. The state will operate the D-SNAP for five (5) consecutive days on May 8, 2023, through May 12, 2023.

2022

Incident: Tennessee Severe Storms

When: Feb 3, 2022

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• On Feb. 11, 2022, FNS approved Tennessee 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 and storms that began on Feb. 3, 2022. The waiver applies to Shelby County. The waiver is in effect through Feb. 24, 2022.

 

2021

Incident: Tennessee Severe Storms

Began Dec 10, 2021

Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP)

On Feb. 7, 2022, FNS approved Tennessee’s request to operate D-SNAP in 12 counties in response to the impact of the severe storms, straight-line winds and tornados that began on Dec. 10, 2021. On Jan. 14, 2022, President Joseph R. Biden issued a major disaster declaration with authorization for federal individual assistance for the following counties: Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Gibson, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Obion, Stewart, Sumner, Weakley and Wilson.

 

Incident: Tennessee Severe Storms

Began March 25, 2021

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

On Aug. 12, 2021, FNS approved Tennessee’s request to operate D-SNAP in identified zip codes in three counties in response to severe storms which began on March 25, 2021. The state agency will begin the application period on Aug. 16-20, 2021.

 

Incident: Tennessee Storms

Began April 12, 2020

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

On May 3, 2020, FNS has approved Tennessee’s request to operate D-SNAP in specific zip codes in Bradley and Hamilton counties in response to the impact of severe weather and tornadoes that occurred on April 12, 2020. The state agency will start the application period no earlier than Wednesday, May 6, 2020, and operate no more than seven non-consecutive days. On April 24, 2020, FNS approved the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) request to waive timely reporting of food loss as a result of tornadoes, severe weather and power outages that began on April 12, 2020. The waiver allows affected households to request replacement SNAP benefits through May 4, 2020.

 

Incident: Tennessee Severe Storms

Began Aug. 21, 2021

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

On Sept. 3, 2021, FNS approved Tennessee’s request to operate a virtual D-SNAP in Dickson, Hickman, Houston and Humphreys counties in response to severe storms and flooding that began on Aug. 21, 2021. The state will operate the application period in 2 phases as follows:

• Humphreys County – Sept. 13–17, 2021
• Dickson, Hickman and Houston counties – Sept. 20-24, 2021

On Aug. 30, 2021, FNS approved a Tennessee request to waive timely reporting of food loss for households in Humphreys, Dickson, Houston and Hickman counties. This waiver approval allows impacted households to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits for food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages, severe storms, and flash flooding that began on Aug. 21, 2021. The waiver will be in effect through Sept. 30, 2021. On Aug. 27, 2021, FNS approved Tennessee'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 Benton, Dickson, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys and Perry. This waiver approval allows SNAP households to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through Sept. 21, 2021, to replace food lost as a result of severe storms that began on Aug. 21, 2021. FNS will notify 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.

 

2020

Incident: Tennessee Tornadoes

Began March 3, 2020

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

For more information about D-SNAP, including dates and locations, please visit the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) website at https://www.tn.gov/humanservices.html

On March 15, 2020, FNS approved Tennessee’s request to conduct telephonic interviews for D-SNAP operations in Davidson (only in zip codes: 37209, 37208, 37218, 37243, 37213, 37207, 37206, 37214, 37076), Putnam and Wilson counties in response to severe weather and tornadoes on March 3, 2020. The state agency can now conduct telephonic interviews for the remainder of the D-SNAP in operation through March 24, 2020. On March 13, 2020, FNS approved Tennessee’s request to waive timely reporting of food loss for households in the counties of Davidson, Putnam, and Wilson. This waiver approval will allow households in the affected counties to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits through March 24, 2020. These replacement SNAP benefits will allow households to replace food lost as a result of tornados and severe weather. On March 13, 2020, FNS also approved Tennessee’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; also for the counties of Davidson, Putnam, and Wilson. This waiver approval will allow SNAP households to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits in those counties through April 3, 2020. On March 12, 2020, FNS approved Tennessee’s request to operate D-SNAP in 3 counties; Davidson (certain zip codes), Putnam and Wilson Counties. The D-SNAP waiver operating dates are March 13, March 16-20, and March 23, 2020. The hours of operation are 8:00 am – 4:30 pm with no weekend or holiday hours, but Tennessee’s DHS will assess the need for additional hours or operating on a weekend to ensure working families have access to D-SNAP without significant interruption to their work schedule.