Flood survivors in eastern Kentucky have been cleared to receive federal food assistance. Residents and those who work in the twelve counties impacted by the flooding can start applying for the disaster SNAP or D-SNAP benefits as of Tuesday.
Willie Taylor is the Southeast Region director for the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. He said the DSNAP benefits work much the same way as regular SNAP benefits.
“You can’t buy alcohol, you can’t buy non-allowable items, if you will, so paper plates and things like that you won’t be able to buy. It has to be an appropriate food item that can be consumed and meets the dietary guidelines as part of the criteria for SNAP.”
He says these benefits come in after the initial wave of aid comes through.
“Think of us as more of a long-term feeding solution, where FEMA is that “I just lost my house last night, I’m feeding you today,” so we’re more of the long-term recovery portion of making sure food is available to impacted households after the disaster.”
Taylor says flood survivors can start applying today and applications will be open for a week. More information about how and where to apply can be found on the governor’s website.
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