The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is releasing September Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits ahead of schedule to dozens of counties due to Hurricane Idalia. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency and the state is making preparations, including the early release of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
According to DCF Secretary Shevaun Harris, “We know how helpful the early release of food assistance benefits can be for our SNAP recipients in purchasing non-perishable items in preparing for the storm or in replenishing food losses after the storm,”
“The Department will do all that it can to support those impacted by this storm,” he added.
According to the USDA, Food stamps in Florida can be used to purchase groceries, such as breads, cereals, fruits and vegetables, meats and fish, dairy and plants, and seeds to grow food. These funds cannot be used to buy alcoholic beverages, tobacco, prepared foods or pet food.
The benefits were added automatically to EBT cards around the state and were available Tuesday.
Those counties are : Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Nassau, Osceola, Orange, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, and Wakulla counties.
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That list tracks with the 49 counties listed in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ most recent state of emergency executive order.
DCF had pushed residents to purchase nonperishable items ahead of the storm, as those can still be eaten if power is knocked out in a given area. Now that the storm has passed, residents can use benefits to re-supply any lost perishables.
Hurricane Idalia made landfall as a Category 2 storm and caused wind and flood damage in the hardest-hit Big Bend area and surroundings. Flooding plagued much of Florida’s Gulf Coast.
