Virginia Disaster Nutrition Assistance

Incident: Tropical Storm Helene

When: Sept. 25, 2024

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

• On Nov. 14, FNS approved the Virginia Department of Social Service (DSS) request to operate the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) in eight (8) counties due in response to the impact of Tropical Storm Helene that began on Sept. 25, 2024. On Oct. 1, 2024, President Joseph R. Biden issued a Major Disaster Declaration with Federal Individual Assistance, and subsequent amendments through Oct. 25, 2024, designating Bedford, Bland, Carroll, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Pittsylvania, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe Counties, and the cities of Galax and Radford, as eligible for assistance. The state plans to operate the D-SNAP in Carroll, Grayson, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe counties beginning Nov. 18, 2024, through Nov. 22, 2024.
• On Oct. 30, 2024, FNS approved the Virginia Department of Social Services (DSS) request to amend the 10-day reporting requirement waiver for food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages due to Tropical Storm Helene that began on Sept. 26, 2024. The initial waiver approved on Oct. 3, 2024, includes the cities of Bristol, Covington, Danville, Galax, Norton, and Radford and the counties of Bland, Bedford, Buchanan, Carroll, Craig, Dickenson, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Pittsylvania, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe. The initial waiver was approved through Oct. 28, 2024. This amended waiver request includes Roanoke County and the localities of Amherst, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Buena Vista, Campbell, Franklin, Floyd, Halifax, Henry, Lexington, Lynchburg, Martinsville, Patrick, Roanoke, and Rockbridge. This amended waiver is in effect through Nov. 8, 2024.
• On Oct. 24, 2024, FNS approved the Virginia DSS 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 approved on Oct. 4, 2024, allows SNAP households in Alleghany, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Buchanan, Carroll, Craig, Covington, Danville, Dickenson, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Grayson, Henry, Lee, Martinsville, Montgomery, Norton, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Pulaski, Radford, Roanoke, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wythe counties and along with the cities of Bristol, Galax and Roanoke to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through Nov. 10, 2024, in order to increase access to food after power outages as a result of Tropical Storm Helene, beginning on Sept. 25, 2024. This amended waiver approval includes Amherst, Bath, Buena Vista, Campbell, Halifax, Lexington, Lynchburg and Rockbridge counties. This amended waiver also approves households in all 39 counties and 3 cities to continue to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through Dec. 10, 2024. Retailers may need as much as 24-36 hours to make changes that will allow for sale of hot foods.
• On Oct. 4, 2024, FNS approved the Virginia DSS 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 Alleghany, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Buchanan, Carroll, Craig, Covington, Danville, Dickenson, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Grayson, Henry, Lee, Martinsville, Montgomery, Norton, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Pulaski, Radford, Roanoke, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wythe counties along with the cities of Bristol, Galax and Roanoke to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through Nov. 10, 2024, in order to increase access to food after power outages as a result of Tropical Storm Helene, beginning on Sept. 25, 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 Virginia DSS 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 Tropical Storm Helene, beginning on Sept. 25, 2024. The waiver applies to residents of Bristol, Covington, Danville, Galax, Norton and Radford cities along with Bland, Bedford, Buchanan, Carroll, Craig, Dickenson, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Pittsylvania, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wythe counties. The waiver is in effect through Oct. 28, 2024.

Past Responses

2022

Incident: Hurricane Ian

When: Oct. 1, 2022

Child Nutrition Programs

• On Oct. 3, 2022, FNS approved Virginia Department of Education’s request to allow Virginia Beach City Schools to serve meals in a non-congregate setting due to flooding caused by Hurricane Ian. Under the waiver approval, Virginia Beach Public Schools may serve National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) meals in a non-congregate setting, adjust the time of meal service, allow parent pick up, and senior high schools are not required to use offer versus serve at lunch. These waivers are available through Oct. 5, 2022.

2018

Incident: Hurricane Michael

Began: Oct. 10, 2018

Child Nutrition Programs

• On Oct. 19, 2018, FNS approved a request from the Virginia Department of Education for Brunswick County. Schools in Brunswick County may serve meals that do not meet the school breakfast and lunch meal pattern requirements through Oct. 31, 2018.