Natural Disaster Resources For Independent Grocers

Whether your store and community were impacted by Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton, a wildfire, or other natural disaster, here are several resources you can use for recovery, courtesy of the National Grocers Association (NGA) and Food Industry Association (FMI).

Below are helpful resources from FEMA for disaster assistance, as well as information from the USDA about SNAP benefits and the FDA.

FEMA

One important step you can take if you were affected by the hurricane is to apply for disaster assistance.

• Read FEMA's 7 Things You Need to Know About Applying for Disaster Assistance
• Apply directly for federal disaster assistance
• FEMA response by state
• Find additional resources from FEMA here

FDA

• FDA Food Defense and Emergency Response for Retail Food
• FDA Protect Food and Water During Hurricanes and Other Storms
• FDA Food and Agriculture Sector and other Related Activities

USDA

• USDA FSIS Emergency Response
• USDA Food Nutrition Service Disaster Response

Effective immediately, authorized SNAP retailers throughout North Carolina and in certain Florida and Virginia counties may accept SNAP benefits in exchange for hot foods and foods intended to be consumed on retailer premises.

North Carolina

• Approved Areas: All 100 Counties in North Carolina and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina (a federally recognized tribe with a boundary spanning five North Carolina counties: Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, and Swain).
• Duration: These special rules are in effect through November 3, 2024. Hot foods purchased with SNAP benefits during this time are not subject to sales tax.

USDA encourages all SNAP retailers in the approved counties to post a special notice in the store letting SNAP customers know that they can use their SNAP benefits to purchase hot foods and, where practical, may remain on the premises to consume those foods. Click here to see the official notice from USDA.

Florida

• Approved Areas: The waiver applies to the counties of Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Madison, and Taylor.
• Duration: These special rules are in effect through October 31, 2024.

Retailers in Florida may need as much as 24-36 hours to make changes that will allow for sale of hot foods. Please set appropriate expectations when messaging hot foods availability to SNAP participants.

Virginia

• Approved Counties: FNS approves the State agency’s request to implement this waiver in the following 31 counties: Washington, Wise, Wythe, Tazewell, Smyth, Grayson, Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Floyd, Giles, Lee, Montgomery, Norton, Patrick, Pulaski, Radford, Russell, Scott, Bedford, Craig, Pittsylvania, Alleghany, Covington, Danville, Henry, Martinsville, Franklin, Roanoke, and Botetourt; and 3 cities: Galax, Bristol, and Roanoke.
• Duration: These special rules are in effect through November 10, 2024. Hot foods purchased with SNAP benefits during this time are not subject to sales tax.

USDA encourages all SNAP retailers in the approved counties to post a special notice in the store letting SNAP customers know that they can use their SNAP benefits to purchase hot foods and, where practical, may remain on the premises to consume those foods.

Additional Resources

• NGA Emergency Preparedness Toolkit
• NGA Natural Disaster Resources
• Healthcare Ready: Ensuring Access to Critical Medications During Disasters
• DOT: Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions and Permits
• American Logistics Aid Network: The Supply Chain Side of Disaster Relief
• Postal Service Operational Updates in Western NC