Evacuee Policy for Hurricane Gustav and Ike
This policy memorandum is the result of activities undertaken to plan a government-wide response to a potential human pandemic and addresses the operation of its USDA food programs during a major pandemic event.
Policy Memoranda FD-063, Household Eligibility Determinations for Disaster or Emergency Evacuees Residing with a Host Family (dated Dec. 4, 2006), and FD-072, FDPIR Households Displaced During a Disaster (dated Feb. 19, 2008), are cancelled.
During a Presidentially declared disaster/emergency, or during a situation of distress declared by a state or FNS, the state may find it necessary to transport USDA Foods from one area within the state to another in support of disaster feeding efforts. These intra-state transportation costs will be reimbursed by FNS during a Presidentially declared disaster/emergency, and reimbursed by FNS to the extent funds are available during situations of distress.
This memorandum supersedes the Oct. 19, 2005 memorandum on Replacement of Commodities due to Natural Disasters.
This guidance applies to the Expanded Disaster Evacuee Policy (Sept. 2, 2005, as modified on Sept. 14, 2005).
This version replaces the guidance published on Sept. 9, 2005. We have clarified that the policy is applicable to evacuees that apply either in September or October 2005, and to households that move within the state. Concurrently, we have revised the Expanded Disaster Evacuee Policy to allow that policy to apply through Oct. 31, 2005.
This version replaces the guidance published on Sept. 2, 2005. It has been revised to extend the application period to the end of October and clarify that normal program rules apply beginning with January 2006 issuances.
This policy applies to evacuees from areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Those include counties in the Gulf Coast region in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. The unprecedented damage from Hurricane Katrina has made it necessary for people to be evacuated, not only from the project area where they are living, but even from the entire State.
This policy memo provides clarification on food loss as an eligibility factor for the Disaster Food Stamp Program.