After Hurricane Florence: Help for Buying Food

DHHS has worked to help families recover from Hurricane Florence. As part of that, the Department currently has approval to help people buy food through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) in three counties that were declared a federal disaster after the storm.

Eligibility

To be eligible, people must:

  • Live in one of these counties: Chatham, Durham and Guilford
  • Have suffered losses/damages related to Hurricane Florence, such as damage to property, loss of income or food loss, between the dates of Sept. 7 and Oct. 6.
  • Have proof of identity.
  • Have proof of residency (if available).
  • Have income and resources below certain levels.
  • Not currently be receiving help buying food through the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program. 

Amount

The amount people receive depends on household size, but a family of one could receive $192, a family of four could receive $640, and larger families could receive more.

Application information

  • Applications will be accepted in Chatham, Durham and Guilford counties from Thursday, Nov. 1 through Friday, Nov. 9, with the exception of Tuesday, Nov. 6.
  • People who wanted to apply for help buying food must do so in person. You can also call 211 for information about application locations. 
  • You can complete your application ahead of time and bring it with you if you want to.
  • Only heads of households or an authorized representative can apply. People who may have a disability or are physically unable to go in person to apply for help can complete this form and send an authorized representative in their place.
  • Please plan in advance for wait times when you get to the office. County officials will do everything they can to process applications quickly, but many people are expected to apply.
  • This video provides information on D-SNAP in American Sign Language (ASL) for citizens who are Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing.

If you are eligible

  • You will receive your one-time debit card the same day you apply, so you will only need to visit the office once.
  • You will be able to use your card to buy food within three days of receiving it.
  • You can use your benefits to buy food at any store that accepts EBT cards, such as grocery stores or convenience stores.
  • In addition to food, you may also purchase infant formula, ice, and drinking water.

If you are told you’re not eligible

  • Any household denied these benefits is entitled to request a fair hearing. You can request a hearing at your county department of social services.