There are no active disaster response efforts.
Past Responses
- 2024
Incident: Flooding
When: July 10, 2024
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- On July 19, 2024, FNS approved the Vermont Department of Children and Families (DCF) 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 catastrophic rain and flooding that began on July 10, 2024. The waiver applies to all counties in the State of Vermont and is in effect through Aug. 8, 2024.
- 2023
Incident: Severe Storms and Flooding
When: July 9, 2023
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- On Sept. 15, 2023, FNS approved Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF) extension 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 waiver applies to the nine counties of Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham and Windsor. This extension waiver approval allows SNAP households in the above nine counties to continue to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through Oct. 17, 2023, in order to increase access to food after power outages as a result of severe storms that began July 9, 2023.
- On Aug. 9, 2023, FNS approved Vermont DCF extension 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 waiver applies to all counties in the state of Vermont. This extension waiver approval allows SNAP households to continue to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through Sept. 17, 2023, in order to increase access to food after power outages as a result of severe storms that began July 9, 2023.
- On Aug. 8, 2023, FNS approved Vermont DCF extension request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement for food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages and flooding due to heavy rainstorms that began on July 9, 2023. The waiver request applies to all residents in the State of Vermont and is in effect through Aug. 31, 2023.
- On July 19, 2023, FNS approved Vermont DCF 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 waiver applies to all counties in the state of Vermont. This waiver approval allows SNAP households to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through Aug. 18, 2023, in order to increase access to food after power outages as a result of severe storms that began July 9, 2023. Retailers may need as much as 24-36 hours to make changes that will allow for sale of hot foods.
- On July 14, 2023, FNS approved the Vermont DCF 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 flooding that began on July 9, 2023. The waiver request applies to all residents in the state of Vermont and is in effect through Aug. 9, 2023.
USDA Foods
- On July 22, 2023, FNS approved the Vermont Agency of Education amended request to use USDA Foods from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to operate a disaster household distribution in the Town of Marshfield. The initial waiver request approved on July 17, 2023, applies to the areas of Johnson, Ludlow, Hardwick, Barre/Berlin/Montpelier, Northfield, and Chester. This request is in response to food assistance needs resulting from a major disaster declaration due to severe storms, flooding, and mudslides causing extensive damage to homes. On July 20, 2023, the state began providing the disaster household distribution food package to approximately 8,000 individuals. The boxes are distributed at TEFAP distribution sites and mobile distribution in areas of Johnson, Ludlow, Hardwick, Barre/Berlin/Montpelier, Northfield, Chester, and the Town of Marshfield. The disaster household package contains canned vegetables, meat, rice and fruit cups.
- On July 17, 2023, FNS approved Vermont’s request to operate a disaster household distribution in the areas of Johnson, Ludlow, Hardwick, Barre/Berlin/Montpelier, Northfield, and Chester. This request is in response to food assistance needs resulting from a major disaster declaration due to severe storms, flooding, and mudslides causing extensive damage to homes. The disaster household distribution food package will be provided to approximately 8,000 individuals beginning on July 20, 2023. The boxes will use USDA Foods and will be distributed at The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) distribution sites and mobile distribution in areas of Johnson, Ludlow, Hardwick, Barre/Berlin/Montpelier, Northfield and Chester. The disaster household package contains canned vegetables, meat, rice and fruit cups.