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Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Disaster Nutrition Assistance

Incident: Hurricane Fiona

Began: Sept. 18, 2022

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
  • On Sept. 30, 2022, FNS approved Puerto Rico Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC) request for a waiver in response to Hurricane Fiona. Under the waiver approval, WIC participants who did not receive their benefits in September due to the impacts of Fiona may receive and use these benefits at retail stores through Oct. 31, 2022. Additionally, vendors (stores) may redeem and be reimbursed for those September benefits through Nov. 30, 2022. FNS approved this waiver with the above expiration dates, with the expectation that it will only be implemented for the four (4) clinics that remain negatively impacted due to Hurricane Fiona and were unable to issue timely WIC benefits in September 2022.
USDA Foods
  • On Sept. 24, 2022, FNS approved Puerto Rico’s request to approve the use of USDA Foods from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) for Disaster Household Distribution (DHD) in response to Hurricane Fiona recovery efforts. Distribution of USDA Foods pre-boxed packages to approximately 30,000 individuals will begin on Sept. 20, 2022, and continue through Oct. 15, 2022.
Child Nutrition Programs
  • On Sept. 25, 2022, FNS approved Puerto Rico’s request for waivers in response to Hurricane Fiona that apply to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option (SSO) during unanticipated school closures. These waivers are effective through Oct. 31, 2022.
    • Timeframe for Unanticipated School Closures - FNS waives the requirement that limits the use of flexibilities for meal service during unanticipated school closures to the October through April period. FNS also extends the use of these flexibilities outside of the October through April period to SSO for the duration of this waiver.
    • FNS waives the requirements to serve meals through the SFSP during an unanticipated school closure in a congregate setting - FNS also extends the non-congregate feeding flexibility to SSO for the duration of this waiver.
    • FNS waives the requirement that meals may only be served directly to children - FNS also extends the parent and guardian pick up flexibility to SSO for the duration of this waiver.
    • Meal Service Times for Unanticipated School Closures (SFSP/SSO) - FNS waives the requirements that set meal time parameters for SFSP sites. FNS also extends the meal service times flexibility to SSO for the duration of this waiver.
    • Service of Meals at School Sites during Unanticipated School Closures -FNS waives the requirement that limits the operation of SFSP during an unanticipated school closure to non-school sites. FNS also extends the service of meals at school sites during unanticipated school closures flexibility to SSO for the duration of this waiver.
  • On Sept. 25, 2022, FNS approved Puerto Rico’s request for waivers and exception in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) for school year operations in response to the recovery efforts for Hurricane Fiona. These waivers are effective through Oct. 31, 2022.
    • Non-Congregate Meal Service (NSLP and SBP) - FNS waives the requirements to serve meals through the NSLP and SBP in a congregate setting.
    • Meal Service Times (NSLP and SBP) - FNS waives the requirements that set meal time parameters for school lunch and breakfast.
    • Parent and Guardian Meal Pick Up (NSLP and SBP) - FNS waives the requirement that meals may only be served directly to children.
    • Offer Versus Serve (NSLP) - FNS waives the requirement to serve school lunches to senior high school students using offer versus serve. FNS also extends the offer versus serve flexibility to SSO for the duration of this waiver, when there is an unanticipated school closure during the school year.
    • Meal Pattern Exception - FNS will temporarily allow school meals and afterschool snacks that do not meet the meal pattern requirements. This applies to all meals served through the SBP and NSLP, including those served to students in preschool and through the Afterschool Snack Service. FNS expects that this exception will only be implemented by Program operators when meal requirements cannot be met due to Hurricane Fiona.
  • On Sept. 25, 2022, FNS approved Puerto Rico’s request for waivers in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) in response to the recovery efforts for Hurricane Fiona. These waivers are effective through Oct. 31, 2022.
    • Non-Congregate Meal Service (CACFP) - FNS waives the requirement to serve meals through CACFP in a congregate setting.
    • Parent and Guardian Meal Pick Up (CACFP) - FNS waives the requirement that meals may only be served directly to children and adult participants.
    • Meal Service Times (CACFP) - FNS waives the requirements that set meal time parameters for CACFP institutions and facilities.
Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP)
  • On Sept. 23, 2022, FNS approved the Puerto Rico Administration for the Socio-Economic Development of the Family (ADSEF) request to extend certification periods for sixty days for ongoing Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP) participants due to severe damage from Hurricane Fiona. The waiver is in effect through Nov. 21, 2022.
  • On Sept. 23, 2022, FNS approved Puerto Rico's request to extend the expiration date to waive state plan requirements and allow hot foods to be purchased at certified retailers utilizing the Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP) card. The amended waiver is effective through Oct. 9, 2022.
  • On Sept. 20, 2022, FNS approved Puerto Rico's request to waive state plan requirements and allow hot foods to be purchased at certified retailers utilizing the Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP) card. The waiver is effective through Sept. 25, 2022.

 

Past Responses
2020
Incident: 2020 Puerto Rico Earthquake

When: January 2020

Child Nutrition
  • On Feb. 27, 2020, FNS granted Puerto Rico Department of Education’s (PRDE’s) request for an extension of flexibilities in the child nutrition programs for the specifically identified school food authorities and sponsors. FNS granted the ability to serve and claim all meals for National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) at the free rate through March 31, 2020. FNS granted meal pattern flexibility for CACFP sponsors through March 31, 2020. FNS granted meal pattern flexibility for SFAs through March 31, 2020.
  • On Feb. 14, 2020, FNS approved PRDOE's request to add the 9 municipalities that received an IA declaration on Feb. 5, 2020 to the following waivers: Sponsors and SFAs may serve and claim meals that do not meet the NSLP, SBP and CACFP patterns; Sponsors and SFAs may serve meals for free and be reimbursed at the free reimbursement rate. The effective date for these flexibilities is Jan. 16, 2020 until Feb. 27, 2020.
  • On Feb. 4, 2020, FNS approved PRDOE’s waiver request to grant program operators in the 16 impacted municipalities the ability to serve and claim all NSLP, SBP and CACFP meals at the free rate through Feb. 27, 2020.
  • On Feb. 2, 2020, FNS approved PRDOE’s request for a waiver to meal pattern requirements in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Affected CACFP sponsors may serve and claim for reimbursement meals that do not meet the meal pattern requirements through Feb. 27, 2020.
  • On Jan. 31, 2020, FNS approved PRDOE request for an exception to meal pattern requirements in the NSLP and SBP. Affected schools in the 16 impacted municipalities may claim school lunch and breakfast meals that do not meet the meal pattern requirements through Feb. 27, 2020.
USDA Foods
  • On Feb. 5, 2020, FNS approved PRDOE’s request for the extension of disaster congregate feeding through Feb. 21, 2020.
  • On Jan. 7, 2020 FNS approved PRDOE’s request for USDA Food support for disaster congregate feeding.
2019
Incident: Tropical Storm Dorian

When: August 2019

Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP)
  • On Aug. 27, 2019, the Secretary of Family Affairs of Puerto Rico advised FNS that Puerto Rico issued some of the NAP September benefits to participants one week early in anticipation of Tropical Storm Dorian.
2017
Incident: Hurricane Maria

When: Sept. 20, 2017

Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP)
  • On Jan. 25, 2018, FNS approved Puerto Rico's second request to extend the below mentioned hot foods' waiver request through Feb. 28, 2018. The previous extension expired on Jan. 31, 2018.
  • On Nov. 16, 2017, FNS approved Puerto Rico's request to extend the delay in the fiscal year (FY) 2018 required NAP conversion to a 15 percent cash benefit portion for the months of October and November; allowing the 20 percent cash portion to continue for two months, through December 2017 and January 2018.
  • On Sept. 30, 2017, FNS approved the request to waive Puerto Rico’s state plan requirements and allow hot foods to be purchased at certified retailers utilizing the EBT portion of the NAP card, and to allow the cash portion for purchases of hot foods at any retail outlet for the months of October and November.
USDA Foods
  • FNS worked with the Puerto Rico Department of Family to approve a Disaster Household Distribution program which began on Sept. 26, and ended on Oct. 27, 2017. This program distributed high quality, nutritious, 100 percent American grown and produced food – USDA Foods, directly to families affected by Hurricane Maria. Puerto Rico’s Disaster Household Distribution food package contained approximately 9-16 pounds of USDA Foods.
Child Nutrition Programs
  • On April 10, 2018, FNS approved Puerto Rico’s request to extend one Hurricane Maria related waiver to child nutrition program operators. This waiver applied to schools and child care institutions that operate the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program. The previous waiver period expired on March 31, 2018. Schools and child care institutions were able to continue to serve and claim all meals at the Free Reimbursement Rate through June 15, 2018.
  • On Jan. 23, 2018, FNS approved Puerto Rico’s request to extend a limited number of Hurricane Maria related waivers to child nutrition program operators. These waivers applied to schools that operate the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program and child care institutions that operate the Child and Adult Care Food Program. The previous waiver periods expired on Dec. 31, 2017. Child care institutions were allowed to serve meals that did not meet the menu planning or meal pattern requirements through March 31, 2018.
  • On Oct. 25, 2017, FNS approved a request from Puerto Rico to provide flexibility to serve all school meals (lunch and breakfast), and Child and Adult Care Food Program meals and snacks to children at no charge beginning Oct. 23 through Dec. 31, 2017.
  • On Oct. 6, 2017, FNS approved a request to extend flexibilities previously provided to schools in what they can serve students in the federal school meal programs, given the challenges of preparing specific foods during this period. Schools were able to serve meals through Dec. 31, 2017 (previous end date was November 3) that did not meet the menu planning or meal pattern requirements for schools and institutions in the affected areas. These flexibilities regarding the meal pattern requirements also applied to operators of the CACFP through Dec. 31, 2017.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
  • On March 29, 2018, FNS approved Puerto Rico's request to extend the time period to transact applicable food instruments for April-June 2018. WIC-authorized vendors may have accepted Puerto Rico WIC food instruments with a first date of use in April 2018 until May 31, 2018, food instruments with a first date of use in May 2018 until June 30, 2018, and food instruments with a first date of use in June 2018 until July 31, 2018. In turn, vendors may have submitted April food instruments for redemption by June 30, 2018, May food instruments for redemption by July 31, 2018, and June food instruments for redemption by Aug. 31, 2018.
  • On March 29, 2018, FNS approved Puerto Rico's request for a 3-month extension (through June 30, 2018) to continue to substitute previously-approved WIC food items; the previous approval expired March 31, 2018.
  • On Feb. 2, 2018, FNS approved Puerto Rico's request to extend the time period to transact January-March 2018 food benefits. WIC-authorized vendors may have accepted Puerto Rico WIC food instruments with a first date of use in January 2018 until Feb. 28, 2018, food instruments with a first date of use in February 2018 until March 31, 2018, and food instruments with a first date of use in March 2018 until April 30, 2018. In turn, vendors may have submitted January food instruments for redemption by March 31, 2018, February food instruments for redemption by April 30, 2018, and March food instruments for redemption by May 30, 2018.
  • On Dec. 22, 2017, FNS approved Puerto Rico's request for a 3-month extension (through March 31, 2018) to continue to substitute previously-approved WIC food items; the previous approval expired Dec. 31, 2017. FNS also approved Puerto Rico's request for flexibility for December WIC food instruments' (FI) redemptions by participants until Jan. 31, 2018. December FI’s batch was available in all clinics after Dec. 15, 2017.
  • On Nov. 24, 2017, FNS approved Puerto Rico's request to extend the time period to transact November food benefits. WIC-authorized vendors may have accepted Puerto Rico WIC food instruments with a first date of use in November 2017, until Dec. 31, 2017. In turn, vendors may have submitted November food instruments for redemption by Jan. 31, 2018.
  • FNS and Puerto Rico worked together to extend the use of September 2017 WIC benefits through Oct. 31, 2017, that WIC mothers and children previously could not access.
  • FNS approved participant certification periods to be extended by 30 days to allow for continued WIC benefits until the Puerto Rico Department of Health is operational.
  • On Sept. 27, 2017, FNS approved the Commonwealth's request to substitute, through Dec. 31, 2017, when approved WIC food items are not in stock, due to the impact of the storm on inventory in the store:
    • Juice. Participants were allowed to substitute 12, 16, and 46 ounce containers of juice, when the prescribed size was not available. Participants must have still selected 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice that met federal standards.
    • Fluid Milk. Participants were allowed to substitute milk of any available fat content despite the designation of their food package. This equated to the addition of 2 percent and removal of any age-related restrictions on milk. Puerto Rico WIC also lifted the restriction on flavored milk and organic.
    • Bread. Participants were allowed to substitute “any brand” of 16 ounce bread labeled “100 percent Whole Wheat” or “Whole Grain”. Participants were allowed to substitute 20 ounce size bread, including white bread. Participants were allowed to substitute white bread, buns or rolls, only if the participant’s prescribed whole grain food item was not available.
    • Baby Foods. Participants were allowed to purchase combinations of single fruit or vegetable ingredients (e.g., apple-banana, peas and carrots, or apples and squash). However, any other types of mixtures such as infant food desserts (e.g., peach cobbler) or dinners (e.g., spaghetti and meatballs) could not be substituted as they are not consistent with the foods provided by the program.
    • Cheese. WIC participants were allowed to substitute one pound of cheese for 3 quarts of UHT or dry or evaporated milk

 

Incident: Hurricane Irma

When: September 2017

Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP)
  • Due to the approach of Hurricane Irma, Puerto Rico issued all remaining September NAP benefits, early, from Sept. 4-5, 2017.
Child Nutrition Programs
  • On Sept. 15, 2017, FNS approved a request from the Puerto Rico Department of Education (PRDE) for waivers of requirements in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs' meal patterns due to emergency conditions as a result of Hurricane Irma. FNS approved the request to waive the weekly dark green vegetable requirement for the 4 municipalities currently under a Major Disaster Declaration.

 

Puerto Rico Departamento de Educacion Website

Page updated: June 20, 2023