Guam Disaster Nutrition Assistance

Incident: Super Typhoon Mawar

When: May 22, 2023

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• On June 26, 2023, FNS approved Guam Department of Public Health and Human Services Bureau of Economic Security’s (BES) request to extend the expiration date of the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) for the entire island in response to the impact of Super Typhoon Mawar that began on May 22, 2023. President Joseph R. Biden issued a major disaster declaration designating Guam as eligible for federal individual assistance on May 28, 2023. The initial waiver allowed BES to operate the D-SNAP June 22, 2023, through June 26, 2023. The amended waiver extends D-SNAP operations through July 1, 2023.
• On June 15, 2023, FNS approved Guam Department of Public Health and Human Services Bureau of Economic Security’s (BES) request to operate Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) for the entire island in response to the impact of Super Typhoon Mawar that began on May 22, 2023. President Joseph R. Biden issued a major disaster declaration designating Guam as eligible for federal individual assistance on May 28, 2023. The state plans to operate the D-SNAP for the entire island beginning June 22, 2023, through June 28, 2023, for a total of seven consecutive days.
• On June 15, 2023, FNS approved the Guam Department of Public Health and Human Services BES request to extend certification periods and waive periodic reporting requirements for ongoing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households for the entire island of Guam for up to six (6) months due to the impact of Super Typhoon Mawar that began on May 22, 2023.
• On June 5, 2023, FNS approved the Guam Department of Health and Public Social Services (DPHSS) request to issue mass replacements to impacted households. This waiver approval allows households to receive replacement of benefits as stated in the approval due to power outages, flooding, and high-speed winds as a result of Super Typhoon Mawar that began on May 22, 2023. The waiver applies to the Territory of Guam.
• On May 30, 2023, FNS approved the Guam DPHSS 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 Super Typhoon Mawar that began on May 22, 2023. The waiver request applies to residents of Guam. The waiver is in effect through June 21, 2023.

Past Responses

2018

Incident: Typhoon Mangkhut

When: Sept. 10, 2018

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• On Sept. 20, 2018, FNS approved Guam’s request to issue mass replacements for the Territory of Guam. This waiver approval allows the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services to automatically replace 60 percent of the September 2018 SNAP benefit for households affected by Typhoon Mangkhut.
• On Sept. 14, 2018, FNS approved a Guam request for timely household reporting of food loss for the Territory of Guam. This waiver approval allows households to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits through Oct. 9, 2018. These replacement SNAP benefits will allow households to replace food lost as a result of Typhoon Mangkhut.