October 25, 2021 - SAN FRANCISCO – Households impacted by extreme wind and Public Safety Power Shutoffs in 14 California counties could be eligible for replacement of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/CalFresh benefits, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced. This is one of many recent steps USDA has taken to ensure California residents in need have food to eat.

Rather than require SNAP households to report food losses individually, USDA allowed the state of California to approve automatic mass replacements for residents in certain zip codes in 14 counties who lost food as a result of the extreme wind and Public Safety Power Shutoffs. The waiver applies to 18 zip codes in the following 14 counties: Amador, Colusa, Fresno, Glenn, Kern, Lake, Mariposa, Monterey, Napa, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Tehama, Tuolumne, and Yolo. More details will be made available through the California Department of Social Services.

SNAP participants in areas hardest hit by the disaster may have a portion of their October benefits replaced. SNAP recipients residing in other affected areas may request replacement benefits by filing an affidavit with the local office attesting to disaster-related loss.

The SNAP mass replacements announcement is the latest in a battery of USDA actions taken to help California residents cope with the wildfires that began on July 20, 2021, and its aftermath, such as:

• Approving Disaster SNAP to allow eligible participants in six counties (Lassen, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Tehama, and Trinity) to purchase groceries at SNAP-authorized stores or from select retailers online to meet their temporary food needs as they settle back home following the disaster.
• Approving a waiver to allow SNAP participants in nine counties (Butte, Glenn, Humboldt, Mendocino, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity) to buy hot foods and hot food products prepared for immediate consumption with their benefits at authorized SNAP retailers statewide through October 28, 2021.
• Approving a timely reporting waiver for affected households in Shasta County through October 22, 2021, allowing affected residents more time to notify the state of food lost as a result of the Fawn Fire that began on September 22, 2021.

Individuals seeking more information about this and other available aid should dial 2-1-1. For more information about California SNAP, visit https://www.cdss.ca.gov/food-nutrition/calfresh.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) leverages its 15 nutrition assistance programs to ensure that children, low-income individuals, and families have opportunities for a better future through equitable access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food, while building a more resilient food system. Under the leadership of Secretary Tom Vilsack, FNS is fighting to end food and nutrition insecurity for all through programs such as SNAP, school meals, and WIC. FNS also provides science-based nutrition recommendations through the co-development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. To learn more, visit www.fns.usda.gov.
Source: USDA