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Washington Disaster Nutrition Assistance

Incident: Wildfires

When: Aug 1, 2026

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • On Aug. 6, 2026, we approved the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (WDSHS) 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 wildfires that began on Aug. 1, 2026. The waiver applies to Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, and Walla Walla counties, including tribal lands. The waiver is in effect through Aug. 21, 2026.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

  • On Aug. 5, 2026, we approved the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) to use USDA Foods from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to operate disaster household distribution in Chelan, Ferry, Okanogan, Spokane, Stevens, and Yakima counties. This request is in response to wildfires that caused evacuations, limited food access, and loss of property. The disaster household distribution food package will be provided to approximately 5,000 individuals beginning on Aug. 6, 2026, extending through Aug. 28, 2026. The prepacked boxes will be distributed by self-pickup at multiple distribution sites in the six counties listed above. The boxes will be household size, and each box will contain an allocated number of USDA Foods based on the size of the household. The disaster household package will contain foods such as milk, mixed fruit, raisins, canned vegetables, dry beans, lentils, rice, nuts, canned chicken, oats, peanut butter, soup, and other types of food, as available.

Child Nutrition Programs (CNP)

  • On Aug. 5, 2026, we approved the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s (OSPI) 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) in Washington state affected by wildfires may serve meals in a non-congregate setting, allow parent pick-up, and adjust the time of meal service. We expect 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. The waiver is effective Aug. 5, 2026, through Aug. 19, 2026.

     

Incident: Wildfires

When: July 15, 2026

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • On Aug. 6, 2026, we approved the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (WDSHS) request to extend the 10-day reporting requirement waiver for food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages due to wildfires that began on July 15, 2026. The initial waiver, approved on July 24, 2026, includes the counties of Adams, Benton, Chelan, Ferry, Franklin, Kittitas, Lincoln, Okanogan, Stevens, Whitman, and Yakima, including tribal lands. This extension approval applies to Benton, Chelan, Ferry, Lincoln, Okanogan, Whitman, and Yakima counties, along with tribal lands. The waiver is now in effect through Aug. 14, 2026.
  • On July 24, 2026, we approved the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (WDSHS) 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 wildfires that began on July 15, 2026. The waiver applies to Adams, Benton, Chelan, Ferry, Franklin, Kittitas, Lincoln, Okanogan, Stevens, Whitman, and Yakima counties, including tribal lands. The waiver is in effect through Aug. 4, 2026.

 

Past Responses

2026

Incident: Wildfires

When: July 9, 2026

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • On July 16, 2026, we approved the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (WDSHS) 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 wildfires that began on July 9, 2026. The waiver applies to Asotin, Douglas, Ferry, Garfield, Grays Harbor, Kittitas, Lincoln, Okanogan, and Stevens counties, including tribal lands. The waiver is in effect through July 29, 2026.

Incident: Wildfires

When: June 29, 2026

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • On July 16, 2026, we approved the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (WDSHS) 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 wildfires that began on June 29, 2026. The waiver applies to Chelan, Mason, Pend Oreille, Walla Walla, and Yakima counties, including tribal lands. The waiver is in effect through July 29, 2026.

Incident: Winter Storms

When: Mar. 11, 2026

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • On Mar. 24, 2026, we approved the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) 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 winter storms that began on Mar. 11, 2026. The waiver applies to Benton, Chelan, Ferry, Island, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Lewis, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, and Whatcom counties. The waiver is in effect through Apr. 2, 2026.
2025

Incident: Severe Storms

When: Dec. 17, 2025

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • On Dec. 30, 2025, we approved the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) 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 severe storms that began on Dec. 17, 2025. The waiver applies to Asotin, Clark, Ferry, Island, Jefferson, Kitsap, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Skamania, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, and Whitman counties. The waiver is in effect through Jan. 16, 2026.

Incident: Severe Storms

When: Dec. 9, 2025

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

  • On Dec. 15, 2025, we approved the Washington Department of Agriculture (WDA) to use USDA Foods from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to operate disaster household distribution in Lewis and Skagit counties. This request is in response to severe storms and flooding that caused evacuations, limited food access, and loss of property. The disaster household distribution food package will be provided to approximately 1,000 individuals beginning on Dec. 16, 2025, extending through Jan. 16, 2026. The prepacked boxes will be distributed by self-pickup at multiple distribution sites in both counties. The boxes will be household size, and each box will contain an allocated number of USDA Foods based on the size of the household. The disaster household package will contain shelf stable foods such as canned fruits, beans, meat, and UHT milk.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • On Dec. 19, 2025, we approved the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) 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 severe storms that began on Dec. 9, 2025. The waiver applies to Benton, Chelan, Clallam, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, King, Kittitas, Lewis, Mason, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Whatcom, and Yakima counties. The waiver is in effect through Jan. 8, 2026.

Incident: Wildfires

When: Aug. 30, 2025

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • On Sept. 17, 2025, we approved the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) 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 wildfires that began on Aug. 30, 2025. The waiver applies to Chelan, Ferry, and Stevens counties. The waiver is in effect through Sept. 29, 2025.

Incident: Wildfires

When: July 8, 2025

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • On July 24, 2025, we approved the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) 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 wildfires that began on July 8, 2025. The waiver applies to Ferry, Jefferson, Klickitat, Lincoln, Mason, Okanogan, Stevens, and Yakima counties. The waiver is in effect through Aug. 7, 2025.
2024

Incident: Bomb Cyclone Weather System

When: Nov. 19, 2024

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • On Nov. 27, 2024, FNS approved the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) 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 bomb cyclone weather system that began on Nov. 19, 2024. The waiver applies to Chelan, Clallam, Douglas, Ferry, Island, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Lewis, Okanogan, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, Whatcom and Yakima counties. The waiver is in effect through Dec. 19, 2024.
Page updated: August 06, 2026