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FNCS Acting Deputy Under Secretary Brandon Lipps today highlighted the accomplishments of USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service in 2018, from common-sense flexibilities for school meal providers to the agency’s vigorous response to provide food to the victims of coast-to-coast natural disasters.

To help residents, farmers and ranchers affected by hurricane Michael, USDA staff in the regional, state and county offices are actively responding.

As part of the continuing effort to provide relief from the effects of Hurricane Michael, USDA today announced that households in 20 Georgia counties that may not normally be eligible for nutrition assistance under regular SNAP rules may temporarily qualify for D-SNAP benefits. Households may be eligible if they have qualifying disaster-related expenses and meet D-SNAP income limits.

USDA today announced that residents of three additional North Carolina counties -- Chatham, Durham and Gilford – will be eligible for disaster food benefits through USDA’s Disaster SNAP. President Trump extended the disaster declaration for these three counties as part of ongoing federal efforts to support Americans impacted by Hurricane Florence in September.

As part of a continuing effort to provide relief from the effects of Hurricane Michael, the USDA announced today that households in 12 Florida counties that may not normally be eligible for nutrition assistance under regular SNAP rules may temporarily qualify for D-SNAP benefits. Households may be eligible if they have qualifying disaster-related expenses and meet D-SNAP income limits.

To provide relief from the impacts of Hurricane Michael, FNS will allow participants in the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in 23 Georgia counties to buy hot foods with their benefits through Nov. 17, 2018.

Households impacted by Hurricane Michael in 12 Florida counties could be eligible for mass replacement of SNAP benefits, USDA announced. This is one of several steps USDA is taking to ensure Floridians in need have the means to purchase food.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, USDA approved a temporary waiver that will allow participants in the USDA’s SNAP in Florida to buy hot foods with their benefits through Oct. 31, 2018.

Households impacted by Hurricane Florence in South Carolina could be eligible for mass replacement of SNAP benefits. This is one of many recent steps USDA has taken to ensure North and South Carolinians in need have food to eat.

North Carolina residents recovering from Hurricane Florence could be eligible for disaster food benefits through the availability of USDA’s Disaster SNAP.

Secretary Sonny Perdue yesterday hosted a roundtable with local school officials to learn more about how USDA can best assist and enable their efforts to serve nutritious meals to our nation’s children.

As Hurricane Florence approached, Secretary Sonny Perdue directed the USDA to use all available authorities to ensure the security and safety of those in the path of the storm, and to aid victims in their recovery efforts.

USDA today announced $5 million of investments in customer service projects to improve and modernize application processing in USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The state of North Carolina will be able to better serve participants through WIC in the wake of Hurricane Florence, thanks to operational flexibilities approved for their use by USDA) The state will be able to issue benefits remotely and waive some nutrition education requirements in places where offices are closed, as well as replace September food benefits that were damaged or lost during the hurricane.

USDA today granted flexibility to allow South Carolina residents to replace food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost due to power outages and flooding caused by Hurricane Florence. Over 185,000 impacted households in 26 counties now have until Oct. 15, 2018 to report food loss to the state and request replacement benefits.

USDA yesterday approved a waiver that will allow SNAP participants in North Carolina to buy hot foods with their benefits through Oct. 31, 2018.

FNS today announced $5.2 million in grant awards to bring nutritious, local foods into schools and create new economic opportunities for farmers. The grants will impact over 6,000 schools and 2.8 million students nationwide.

Acting FNCS Deputy Under Secretary Brandon Lipps today highlighted the vital work FNS has done this year to provide food assistance to the millions of Americans impacted by unprecedented hurricanes and wildfires, as well as the numerous actions FNCS has taken to promote self-sufficiency, integrity, and customer service within federal nutrition programs.

USDA announced it is making it easier for North Carolina schools affected by Hurricane Florence to feed students during this time of great need. All students in affected disaster areas in North Carolina will now be able to enjoy free school meals provided by  the National School Lunch Program through October 26.