User:Majesticfish/Food Assistance for Disaster Relief

Food Assistance for Disaster Relief refers to a government program in the United States that provides nutrition services in disaster situations. The program is operated by the Food and Nutrition Service.

Disaster Classifications
There are a certain number of conditions that must be met before a situation can be classified as a disaster and for the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to provide Food Assistance. The two types of classifications are Presidentially Declared Major Disasters or Emergency Declarations and Situations of Distress

Presidentially Declared Major Disasters or Emergency Declarations
When a disaster afflicts a state, the Governor makes a request to the president for assistance. The president assesses, based off FEMA's recommendation, whether or not to declare an emergency and to utilize the federal government's resources. Once an emergency has been declared, Distributing Agencies have authority to release USDA Foods for congregate feeding as long as they are needed and the FNS guarantees replacement the USDA Foods used.

Situations of Distress
A situation of distress describes a natural catastrophe or situation that has not been declared a disaster or emergency by the president but is determined to warrant use of USDA foods by the Distributing Agency or the FNS. Notable differences between Situations of Distress and Presidentially Declared disasters or emergencies are
 * Used USDA Foods are only replaced to extent of funds available
 * Distributing Agencies can release USDA Foods for congregate feeding for up to 30 days in a natural event, and up to approval of FNS in a non natural event

Congregate Feeding
In times of Presidentially declared disasters and certain other types of emergencies, States can release USDA foods to disaster relief agencies for distribution in certain Congregate Feeding sites. The most commonly used foods for Congregate feeding are foods used for the National School Lunch Program. Non-Governmental organizations such as American Red Cross or the Salvation Army are primarily responsible for congregate feeding when a disaster occurs. These NGOs typically receive food from local vendors, but can request USDA Foods to supplement their needs.

Disaster Household Distribution
Household Distributions are USDA foods in smaller sizes that are meant for individual households for preparation and consumption at home. Household distribution programs take on the form of The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). FNS must first approve these organizations to use USDA foods before any Disaster Household Distribution takes place.

Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
The Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) provides qualified disaster survives with electronic cards that can be used to purchase food at certain authorized retail stores. D-SNAP is a FNS program that state agencies can request when the following conditions are met: Local agencies must ensure no recipient receives both D-SNAP benefits and USDA food disaster assistance.
 * Food retail stores are operating
 * Disaster Area has received a Presidentially declared disaster declaration
 * State has determined people still need nutrition assistance

Funding
USDA Food replacement and emergency funding comes from the following sources:
 * The Agricultural and Consumer Protection Act allocates a certain amount of funds "to maintain the traditional level of assistance for food assistance programs as are authorized by law".
 * Section 32 of the Act of August 24th, 1935 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to use customs receipts to "encourage the domestic consumption of farm products by diverting surpluses from normal channels". The secretary has used this power to purchase foods for disaster assistance programs.

Recent Uses of Food Assistance
The FNS has given disaster food assistance in response to many past disasters. Some of these include: The FNS has also helped with flooding and severe weather in numerous states including Wisconsin, West Virginia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas.
 * Hurricane Sandy - New York (2012)
 * Lead Water Poisoning - Michigan (2014)
 * Blue Cut Fire - California (2016)