Tom Vilsack Secretary of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Official Website
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that low-income Oklahoma residents recovering from severe storms and tornadoes beginning April 25, 2024, could be eligible for assistance through the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP).
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stated that approximately 1,000 households that may not typically qualify under regular Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) rules might be eligible for D-SNAP if they meet specific criteria, including disaster income limits and qualifying disaster-related expenses.
“USDA is committed to making sure that the Oklahoma residents affected by the severe storms and tornados get the vital assistance they need,” said Secretary Vilsack. “Helping residents of Oklahoma get back on their feet is a top priority, and we will continue working to expedite access to USDA’s nutrition assistance programs.”
To qualify for D-SNAP, a household must live or work in an identified disaster area, have been affected by the disaster, and meet certain eligibility criteria. Eligible households will receive one month of benefits equal to the maximum monthly amount for a SNAP household of their size. These benefits can be used to purchase groceries at SNAP-authorized stores or select retailers online to meet temporary food needs as families settle back home following the disaster.
Oklahoma will operate its D-SNAP application for five consecutive days from Monday, May 20, 2024, through Friday, May 24, 2024. Additional information about D-SNAP application dates and locations will be shared through local media and on Oklahoma's official website.
The timing of D-SNAP varies with each disaster's unique circumstances but always begins after commercial channels of food distribution have been restored and families can purchase and prepare food at home. Before operating a D-SNAP program, a state must ensure proper public information dissemination, staffing, and resources are in place.
Today's announcement is part of several USDA actions aimed at helping Oklahoma residents cope with recent severe storms and tornadoes. These actions include:
- Approving a 10-day reporting waiver for food purchased with SNAP benefits lost due to power outages in Carter, Cotton, Garfield, Hughes, Kay, Lincoln, Love, Murray Okfuskee,Oklahoma Payne,and Pontotoc counties.
- Approving an amended 10-day reporting waiver for food purchased with SNAP benefits lost due to power outages in Okmulgee Johnson Pittsburg Wagoner Blane Cleveland Comanche Craig Custer Kingfisher McClain Osage Pottawatomie Ottawa Tillman Washington Washita counties.
For more information about this aid or other available assistance programs,Oklahoma residents can dial 2-1-1 or call 1-405-487-LIVE.For details about Oklahoma SNAP visit Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services website.
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service aims to end hunger and improve food security through over 16 nutrition assistance programs such as school breakfast/lunch programs WIC,and SNAP.These programs serve one in four Americans annually promoting consistent equitable access to healthy safe affordable food essential optimal health well-being.FNS also provides science-based nutrition recommendations through co-development Dietary Guidelines Americans.FNS report "Leveraging White House Conference Promote Elevate Nutrition Security Role USDA Food Nutrition Service" highlights ways agency support Biden-Harris Administration National Strategy released conjunction historic White House Conference Hunger Nutrition Health September2022.To learn more about FNS visit www.fns.usda.gov follow @USDANutrition
