There are no active disaster response efforts.
Past Responses
- 2023
Incident: Power Outages
When: Dec. 18, 2023
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- On Dec. 22, 2023, FNS approved the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) 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 due to severe rainstorms that began on Dec. 18, 2023. The waiver request applies to Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk and Worcester counties. The waiver is in effect through Jan. 8, 2024.
Incident: Severe Storms
When: Aug. 4, 2023
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- On Aug. 4, 2023, FNS approved the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) 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 July 9, 2023, through July 16, 2023. This waiver applies to residents in Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, Middlesex, Norfolk, Nantucket, Plymouth, Suffolk and Worcester counties and will be in effect through Aug. 15, 2023.
Incident: Situation of Distress- Power Outages
When: Feb. 4, 2023
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- On Feb. 16, 2023, FNS approved the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) 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 to a burst water pipe that occurred on Feb. 4, 2023. The waiver request applies to the residents of Elm Park Tower apartments located at 425 Pleasant Street in Worcester. The waiver is in effect through Mar. 16, 2023.
- 2022
Incident: Situation of Distress- Power Outages
When: Nov. 24, 2022
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- On Dec. 7, 2022, FNS approved the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) 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 to a fire that occurred on Nov. 24, 2022. The waiver request applies to residents of Plumley Village Apartments located at 16 Laurel St. in Worcester. The waiver is in effect through Dec. 22, 2022.
- 2021
Incident: Power Outages
When: Oct. 27, 2021
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- On Nov. 1, 2021, FNS approved Massachusetts’ Department of Transitional Assistance request to waive timely reporting of food loss for households in the state. This waiver approval allows impacted households to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits for food lost as a result of damaging winds and power outages that began on Oct. 27, 2021, as well as September 2021 Emergency Allotment replacement benefits that were issued Oct. 4, 2021. The waiver will be in effect through Nov. 16, 2021.
- 2020
Incident: Tropical Storm Isaias
When: Aug. 4, 2020
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
On Aug. 18, 2020, FNS approved Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance request to issue mass replacement of SNAP benefits to households in the 33 affected towns listed below. This waiver approval allows households to receive replacement of 20 percent of July 5 through July 14 benefits and 60 percent of August 1 through August 4 benefits as a result of Tropical Storm Isaias and power outages that began on Aug. 4, 2020. Impacted towns:
Becket
Belchertown
Brimfield
Brookfield
Chesterfield
East Brookfield
East LongmeadowGrafton
Hardwick
Hinsdale
Holland
Hubbardston
Lanesborough
Longmeadow
MiddlefieldMonson
Monterey
Mount Washington
New Marlborough
Northborough
RehobothSeekonk
Sheffield
Shutesbury
Spencer
Stockbridge
Sutton
Wales
WendellWest Stockbridge
Westminster
Wilbraham
Worthington- On Aug. 17, 2020, FNS approved Massachusetts request to waive timely reporting of food loss for households in the state of Massachusetts. This waiver approval allows households to request replacement of SNAP benefits through Sept. 3, 2020 to replace food lost as a result of Tropical Storm Isaias and power outages.