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Texas Disaster Nutrition Assistance

There are no active disaster response efforts.

Past Responses

2024

Incident: Hurricane Beryl

When: July 5, 2024

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • On Aug. 13, 2024, FNS approved the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) amended request to waive the statutory definition of "food" under Section 3(k)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended and accompanying regulations at 7 CFR 271.2. The initial waiver was approved on July 17, 2024, and allows households in Angelina, Austin, Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Houston, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Lavaca, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, Tyler, Victoria, Walker, Waller, and Wharton counties to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through Aug. 16, 2024, in order to increase access to food after power outages as a result of Hurricane Beryl that began on July 5, 2024. This waiver approval includes Bowie, Cass, Fayette, Morris, Panola, Red River, and Washington counties and increases the total to 43 counties. The waiver is in effect until Sept. 15, 2024, for all approved counties. Retailers may need as much as 24-36 hours to make changes that will allow for sale of hot foods.
  • On July 23, 2024, FNS approved the Texas HHSC request to modify the mass replacements waiver to impacted households. The initial waiver approved on July 12, 2024, includes the counties of Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Galveston, Grimes, Harris, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller and Wharton. This modification waiver approval allows households to receive replacement of SNAP benefits as stated in the approval due to power outages as a result of Hurricane Beryl that made landfall on July 8. The modification waiver approval applies to Fort Bend and Washington counties.
  • On July 17, 2024, FNS approved the Texas HHSC request to waive the statutory definition of "food" under Section 3(k)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended and accompanying regulations at 7 CFR 271.2. This waiver approval allows SNAP households in 36 counties: Angelina, Austin, Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Houston, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Lavaca, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, Tyler, Victoria, Walker, Waller and Wharton to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through Aug. 16, 2024, in order to increase access to food after power outages as a result of Hurricane Beryl that began on July 5, 2024. Retailers may need as much as 24-36 hours to make changes that will allow for sale of hot foods.
  • On July 12, 2024, FNS approved the Texas HHSC request to issue mass replacements to impacted households. This waiver approval allows households to receive replacement of SNAP benefits as stated in the approval due to power outages as a result of Hurricane Beryl that made landfall on July 8. The waiver approval applies to Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Galveston, Grimes, Harris, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller and Wharton counties.
  • On July 9, 2024, FNS approved the Texas HHSC request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement for food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of severe rain, flooding, and power outages due to Hurricane Beryl that made landfall on July 8, 2024. This waiver allows impacted households additional time to request replacement of SNAP benefits. The waiver applies to 121 counties: Anderson, Angelina, Aransas, Atascosa, Austin, Bastrop, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Brooks, Burleson, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cameron, Camp, Cass, Chambers, Cherokee, Collin, Colorado, Comal, Dallas, Delta, DeWitt, Dimmit, Duval, Ellis, Falls, Fannin, Fayette, Fort Bend, Franklin, Freestone, Frio, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Grayson, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hill, Hopkins, Houston, Hunt, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kaufman, Kenedy, Kinney, Kleberg, Lamar, LaSalle, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Live Oak, Madison, Marion, Matagorda, Maverick, McLennan, McMullen, Medina, Milam, Montgomery, Morris, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Panola, Polk, Rains, Red River, Refugio, Robertson, Rockwall, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Shelby, Smith, Starr, Titus, Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Uvalde, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Washington, Webb, Wharton, Willacy, Williamson, Wilson, Wood, Zapata and Zavala. The wavier is in effect through Aug. 8, 2024.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

  • On July 11, 2024, FNS approved the Texas Department of Agriculture to use USDA Foods from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to operate disaster household distribution Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Harris, Liberty, Madison, Montgomery, Robertson, San Jacinto, Trinity, Walker, Waller and Washington counties. This request is in response to food assistance needs resulting from Hurricane Beryl due to extensive power outages affecting 2.8 million customers, flooding, downed trees, and road closures. The disaster household distribution food package will be provided to 150,000 individuals beginning on July 11, 2024, through Aug. 10, 2024. The food package will be distributed by the Houston Food Bank’s current distribution method through its network partner agencies. The packages will be household size, and each will contain an allocated number of USDA Foods based on the size of the household. The disaster household package will contain fresh apples, grapes, canned and frozen fruits and vegetables, cheese, meats, nuts, beans, and rice.

Incident: Severe Storms and Tornadoes

When: April 26, 2024

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • On June 13, 2024, FNS approved the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) amended request to waive the statutory definition of "food" under Section 3(k)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended and accompanying regulations at 7 CFR 271.2. The initial waiver was approved on May 23, 2024, and includes Angelina, Austin, Brazoria, Brown, Calhoun, Callahan, Chambers, Colorado, Comanche, Delta, Eastland, Erath, Fannin, Fayette, Fisher, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Haskell, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Jones, Lamar, Lavaca, Liberty, Madison, Montgomery, Newton, Nolan, Orange, Palo Pinto, Polk, Red River, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shackelford, Stephen, Stonewall, Taylor, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller, Washington and Wharton counties. The waiver approval was amended on June 3, 2024, to allow SNAP households in the following 29 additional counties: Anderson, Bell, Burnett, Cherokee, Clay, Collin, Cooke, Coryell, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Falls, Freestone, Grayson, Henderson, Hunt, Jack, Kaufman, Lampasas, McLennan, Milam, Montague, Navarro, Rockwall, Smith, Tarrant, Van Zandt, Williamson, and Wise to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through June 30, 2024, in order to increase access to food after power outages as a result of severe storms and tornadoes that began April 26, 2024. This amended waiver approval includes Bailey, Brazos, Bosque, Cochran, Gregg, Hale, Hamilton, Hill, Hockley, Johnson, Lamb, Leon, Limestone, Lubbock, Lynn, Rains, Robertson, Rusk, Terrell, Terry, Upshur, Wood, and Yoakum counties and increases the total to 102 counties. The waiver is in effect through June 30, 2024, for these counties.
  • On June 12, 2024, FNS approved the Texas HHSC request to amend the 10-day reporting requirement waiver for food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages due to severe storms and tornadoes that began on April 26, 2024. The initial waiver, approved on May 21, 2024, includes the counties of Austin, Chambers, Colorado, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Walker, and Waller. The waiver was amended on May 24, 2024, to include Eastland, Hardin, Jasper, Jones, and Lamar counties. The waiver was amended on June 4, 2024, to include Anderson, Angelina, Bandera, Bastrop, Baylor, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Bosque, Brazos, Brown, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Coleman, Collin, Comal, Concho, Cooke, Coryell, Dallas, Delta, Denton, DeWitt, Dickens, Ellis, Falls, Fannin, Fayette, Freestone, Galveston, Gillespie, Gonzales, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hamilton, Haskell, Hays, Henderson, Hill, Hockley, Hood, Houston, Hunt, Jefferson, Johnson, Karnes, Kaufman, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Knox, Lampasas, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Limestone, Llano, Lynn, Madison, Mason, McCulloch, McLennan, Medina, Menard, Milam, Mills, Montague, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Orange, Panola, Robertson, Rockwell, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Saba, Shelby, Smith, Somervell, Sutton, Tarrant, Travis, Tyler, Van Zandt, Washington, Wichita, Williamson, and Wilson counties. This amended waiver approval includes Bailey, Bowie, Cass, Midland, Red River, and Terrell counties and increases the total to 117 counties. The waiver is in effect through June 30, 2024, for these counties.
  • On June 4, 2024, FNS approved the Texas HHSC request to amend the 10-day reporting requirement waiver for food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages due to severe storms and tornadoes that began on April 26, 2024. The initial waiver, approved on May 21, 2024, includes the counties of Austin, Chambers, Colorado, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Walker, and Waller. The waiver was amended on May 24, 2024, to include Eastland, Hardin, Jasper, Jones, and Lamar counties. This amended waiver approval includes Anderson, Angelina, Bandera, Bastrop, Baylor, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Bosque, Brazos, Brown, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Coleman, Collin, Comal, Concho, Cooke, Coryell, Dallas, Delta, Denton, DeWitt, Dickens, Ellis, Falls, Fannin, Fayette, Freestone, Galveston, Gillespie, Gonzales, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hamilton, Haskell, Hays, Henderson, Hill, Hockley, Hood, Houston, Hunt, Jefferson, Johnson, Karnes, Kaufman, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Knox, Lampasas, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Limestone, Llano, Lynn, Madison, Mason, McCulloch, McLennan, Medina, Menard, Milam, Mills, Montague, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Orange, Panola, Robertson, Rockwell, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Saba, Shelby, Smith, Somervell, Sutton, Tarrant, Travis, Tyler, Van Zandt, Washington, Wichita, Williamson, and Wilson counties. This waiver approval increases the total to 111 counties and is in effect through June 30, 2024, for these counties.
  • On June 3, 2024, FNS approved the Texas HHSC amended request to waive the statutory definition of "food" under Section 3(k)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended and accompanying regulations at 7 CFR 271.2. The initial waiver was approved on May 23, 2024, and includes Angelina, Austin, Brazoria, Brown, Calhoun, Callahan, Chambers, Colorado, Comanche, Delta, Eastland, Erath, Fannin, Fayette, Fisher, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Haskell, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Jones, Lamar, Lavaca, Liberty, Madison, Montgomery, Newton, Nolan, Orange, Palo Pinto, Polk, Red River, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shackelford, Stephen, Stonewall, Taylor, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller, Washington and Wharton counties. This waiver approval allows SNAP households in the additional 29 counties: Anderson, Bell, Burnett, Cherokee, Clay, Collin, Cooke, Coryell, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Falls, Freestone, Grayson, Henderson, Hunt, Jack, Kaufman, Lampasas, McLennan, Milam, Montague, Navarro, Rockwall, Smith, Tarrant, Van Zandt, Williamson, and Wise to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through June 30, 2024, in order to increase access to food after power outages as a result of severe storms and tornadoes that began April 26, 2024. This waiver approval increases the total to 79 counties.
  • On May 24, 2024, FNS approved the Texas HHSC request to amend the 10-day reporting requirement waiver for food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages due to severe storms and tornadoes that began on April 26, 2024. The initial waiver, approved on May 21, 2024, includes the counties of Austin, Chambers, Colorado, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Walker, and Waller. This amended waiver approval includes Eastland, Hardin, Jasper, Jones and Lamar counties. The waiver is in effect through June 17, 2024.
  • On May 23, 2024, FNS approved the Texas HHSC request to waive the statutory definition of "food" under Section 3(k)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended and accompanying regulations at 7 CFR 271.2. This waiver approval allows SNAP households in 50 counties: Angelina, Austin, Brazoria, Brown, Calhoun, Callahan, Chambers, Colorado, Comanche, Delta, Eastland, Erath, Fannin, Fayette, Fisher, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Haskell, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Jones, Lamar, Lavaca, Liberty, Madison, Montgomery, Newton, Nolan, Orange, Palo Pinto, Polk, Red River, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shackelford, Stephen, Stonewall, Taylor, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller, Washington and Wharton to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through June 30, 2024, in order to increase access to food after power outages as a result of severe storms and tornadoes that began April 26, 2024. Retailers may need as much as 24-36 hours to make changes that will allow for sale of hot foods.
  • On May 21, 2024, FNS approved the Texas HHSC 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 severe storms and tornadoes that began on April 26, 2024. The waiver approval applies Austin, Chambers, Colorado, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Walker and Waller counties. The waiver is in effect through June 17, 2024.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

  • On May 23, 2024, FNS approved the Texas Department of Agriculture request to use USDA Foods from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to operate disaster household distribution in Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Trinity, Walker, and Waller counties. This request is in response to food assistance needs resulting from a major disaster declaration due to severe weather, flooding, extended power outages and road closures. The disaster household distribution food package will be provided to 600,000 individuals beginning on May 24, 2024, and will be distributed by Houston Food Bank’s current distribution method through its network partner agencies. The packages will be household size, and each will contain an allocated number of USDA Foods based on the size of the household. The disaster household package will contain fresh apples, grapefruit, oranges, canned and frozen fruits and vegetables, milk, frozen meats, nuts, cheese, beans, and rice.
2023

Incident: Severe Storms and Tornadoes

When: June 21, 2023

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • On June 29, 2023, FNS approved the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) 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 severe storms and tornadoes that began on June 21, 2023. The waiver request applies to residents of Motley County and is in effect through July 20, 2023.

Incident: Severe Storms and Tornadoes

When: June 14, 2023

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • On June 22, 2023, FNS approved the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) 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 severe storms and tornadoes that began on June 14, 2023. The waiver request applies to residents in the following 12 counties: Camp, Cass, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Morris, Ochiltree, Panola, Titus, Upshur and Wood. The waiver is in effect through July 14, 2023.

Incident: Severe Storms

When: Feb. 1, 2023

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • On Feb. 6, 2023, FNS approved the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement for replacement of food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages due to a severe winter storm that began on Feb. 1, 2023. The waiver request applies to the 67 counties of Anderson, Austin, Bandera, Bastrop, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Brazoria, Brooks, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Cameron, Cherokee, Coke, Collin, Comal, Concho, Coryell, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Erath, Falls, Fannin, Fort Bend, Franklin, Freestone, Gillespie, Harris, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hill, Hopkins, Hunt, Irion, Johnson, Kaufman, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Lamar, Lee, Leon, Limestone, Llano, Mason, McLennan, Milam, Montgomery, Navarro, Parker, Rains, Red River, Robertson, Rockwall, Smith, Sterling, Tarrant, Titus, Travis, Van Zandt, Waller, Wichita, Williamson, and Wood. The waiver is in effect through Feb. 28, 2023.
2021

Incident: Severe Storms

When: Feb. 11, 2021

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • On Feb. 24, 2021, FNS approved Texas’ request to issue mass replacements to impacted households. This waiver allows households to receive replacement of SNAP benefits in 66 counties as a result of the winter storms and power outages that began on Feb. 11, 2021. On Feb. 23, 2021, FNS approved Texas’s request to waive timely reporting of food loss for households to all counties in the state. This waiver allows affected households to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits through March 31, 2021, as a result of the severe winter storms that began on Feb. 11, 2021.
  • On Feb. 21, 2021, FNS approved Texas request to waive the statutory definition of "food" under Section 3(k)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended, and companion regulations at 7 CFR 271.2., due to the Severe Winter Storms that began on Feb. 11, 2021. The waiver applies to the entire state of Texas. This waiver approval will allow SNAP households to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through March 31, 2021.
2020

Incident: Hurricane Laura

When: Aug. 22, 2020

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • On Sept. 10, 2020, FNS approved Texas’s request to waive timely reporting of food loss allowing households in 43 counties to request replacement of SNAP benefits through Sept. 30, 2020.
  • On Sept. 10, 2020, FNS approved Texas’s request to issue mass replacements to impacted households in eight counties. This waiver approval allows affected households in those counties to receive replacement of a percentage of their SNAP benefit based on their issuance date.

Disaster Household Distribution Program

  • On Aug. 31, 2020, FNS approved Texas’s use of USDA Foods from TEFAP for a disaster household distribution program. The disaster food package was provided to 9,000 individuals through the Texas Department of Agriculture’s network of distribution sites in Orange County from Sept. 1, 2020 through Sept. 22, 2020 or until such time as D-SNAP is implemented. Food banks used drive thru and site pick-up models to ensure the safety of those serving and served.

Incident: Hurricane Hanna

When: July 25, 2020

  • On July 31, 2020, FNS approved the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) request to waive timely reporting of food loss for households in 32 counties in Texas. This waiver approval allows affected households in those counties to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits through Aug. 31, 2020.

    FNS also approved HHSC’s request to issue mass replacements to impacted households in the counties of Brooks, Hidalgo, Kenedy, McMullen, Starr and Willacy. This waiver approval allows households in these affected counties to receive replacement of a percentage of their SNAP benefit based on issuance date.
2019

Incident: Severe Storms and Flooding

When: June 24, 2019

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

  • On July 9, 2019, FNS approved Texas’ request to waive timely reporting of food loss for households in the counties of Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy. This waiver approval will allow households in these affected counties to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits through July 31, 2019. These replacement SNAP benefits will allow households to replace food lost due to power outages caused by severe storms and flooding that began on June 24, 2019.

Incident: Tornado

When: April 13, 2019

Child Nutrition Programs

  • On May 9, 2019, FNS issued a letter approving two requests for one school district in Texas impacted by a recent tornado. Alto Independent School District (ISD) may serve and claim for reimbursement school lunch and breakfast meals that do not meet the meal pattern requirements, through May 23. Alto ISD is also approved to elect the Community Eligibility Provision using current data through May 23. The state agency reported that Alto ISD has limited food storage capacity and equipment, and that Alto ISD lost its point of service system and back up student eligibility documentation in the tornado. These approvals are expected to help Alto ISD overcome barriers to standard program operations as the district recovers from the tornado.
Page updated: November 26, 2024