South Carolina Disaster Nutrition Assistance

Incident: Hurricane Idalia

When: Aug. 28, 2023

Child Nutrition Programs

• On Aug. 30, 2023, FNS approved the South Carolina Department of Education request for flexibilities relating to child nutrition program operations. Under the waiver approval, program operators of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) may serve meals in a non-congregate setting, allow parent pick-up, adjust the time of meal service, and allow service of meals at school sites due to the unanticipated closures. Additionally, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) may serve meals in a non-congregate setting, allow parent pick-up, adjust the time of meal service, and are not required to use offer versus serve. FNS expects that flexibilities and exceptions provided will only be implemented by program operators when meal service is limited or negatively impacted due to the ongoing natural disasters and recovery efforts.

Please visit the pages below for more information on the federal response to the Hurricane Idalia:

• FEMA at https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-idalia or https://www.fema.gov/es/hurricane-idalia for information on more federal assistance available to individuals and families affected by this disaster.
• USA.gov at https://usa.gov/hurricane-idalia or https://usa.gov/es/huracan-idalia to learn how the U.S. government is responding to Hurricane Idalia. Find resources to help you recover from the disaster.

Past Responses

2022

Incident: Hurricane Ian

When: Sept. 28, 2022

Child Nutrition Programs

• On Sept. 29, 2022, FNS approved South Carolina Department of Education’s request to allow school food authorities (SFAs) impacted by Hurricane Ian, to serve meals in a non-congregate setting. Under the waiver approval, SFAs in South Carolina may serve National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) meals in a non-congregate setting, adjust the time of meal service, allow parent pick up, and senior high schools are not required to use offer versus serve at lunch when meal service is impacted by Hurricane Ian. These waivers are available through Oct. 31, 2022.

2020

Incident: Storms

When: April 13, 2020

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• On April 30, FNS approved the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) request to issue SNAP mass replacements to replace food lost due to power outages resulting from severe thunderstorms and tornados that began on April 13, 2020. The waiver applies to three counties; and specific zip codes in eight counties. This waiver approval allows households in these affected counties and zip codes to receive replacement of 30% of the April 1-12, 2020 SNAP benefit and 20% of the March 23-31, 2020 SNAP benefit.
• On April 21, FNS approved the South Carolina Department of Social Services’ (DSS) request to waive timely reporting of food loss as a result of severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and power outages that began on April 13, 2020. The waiver allows affected households to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits through May 14, 2020.

2019

Incident: Hurricane Dorian

When: Sept. 4, 2019

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• On Sept. 17, 2019, FNS approved South Carolina’s request to issue mass replacements in the counties of Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester, and the following impacted zip codes in Beaufort County: 29907, 29920, 29926, 29935, and 29940; Colleton County: 29435, 29438, 29446, 29452 and 29474; Dillon County: 29563; Georgetown County: 29440; Horry County: 29568; Orangeburg: 29048, 29133, and 29432; Williamsburg County: 29056; and Williamsburg/Georgetown Counties:29510.
  
  This waiver allows households in these affected counties and zip codes to receive replacement of 20% for households that were issued benefits between Sept. 1-5, 2019, and 30% for households that were issued benefits between Aug. 19-31, 2019. These replacement SNAP benefits allow households to replace food lost due to power outages and flooding resulting from Hurricane Dorian.
• On Sept. 7, 2019, FNS approved South Carolina’s request to waive timely reporting of food loss to households in the counties requested. This waiver approval allows households in the affected counties to request a replacement of SNAP benefits through Oct. 7, 2019, to replace food lost due to power outages and flooding resulting from Hurricane Dorian.

2018

Incident: Hurricane Florence

When: Sept. 7, 2018

Child Nutrition Programs

• On Sept. 21, 2018, FNS approved South Carolina’s request for one disaster waiver and one flexibility to assist schools impacted by Hurricane Florence. This approval applies to schools that operate the school lunch and school breakfast programs in 10 counties subject to FEMA’s Major Disaster Declaration. Schools in the designated counties may serve and claim all school lunch and breakfast meals at the Free Reimbursement Rate, effective Sept. 17 through Oct. 31, 2018. Schools in the designated counties may serve school lunch and breakfast meals that do not meet the meal pattern requirements, effective Sept. 17 through Oct. 31, 2018.

  Berkeley Charleston

  Dillon Dorchester

  Georgetown Horry

  Marion Marlboro

  Orangeburg Williamsburg

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• On Sept. 19, 2018, FNS approved South Carolina’ waiver request for timely household reporting of food loss for the following counties. This waiver approval will allow households that suffered power outages due to a household misfortune to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits through Oct. 15, 2018. These replacement SNAP benefits will allow households to replace food lost due to Hurricane Florence.

  Berkeley Beaufort Calhoun Charleston Chesterfield Clarendon

  Colleton Darlington Dillon Dorchester Florence Georgetown

  Hampton Horry Jasper Kershaw Lancaster Lee

  Lexington Marion Marlboro Orangeburg Richland Sumter

  Williamsburg York

South Carolina Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Website
If you think you may be eligible for disaster food assistance in your state, please contact your local state office.