Food assistance available for areas Tropical Storm Arthur hit

State health officials announced Thursday that federal disaster-related food assistance is now available for Louisiana residents in areas affected by last month’s Tropical Storm Arthur.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or D-SNAP, benefits for eligible households affected by Arthur, a short-lived storm that spawned tornadoes and heavy rainfall in Louisiana on June 17. The USDA also approved automatic supplemental SNAP benefits for eligible recipients. 

D-SNAP provides temporary food assistance to households that don’t normally receive SNAP benefits but experienced disaster-related losses and meet certain income eligibility thresholds. The new D-SNAP benefits are separate and in addition to the SNAP hot-meals waiver announced earlier this week. 

Eligible areas are portions of Avoyelles, St. Landry, St. Tammany and Terrebonne parishes, according to a Louisiana Department of Health news release.

“Recovering from a disaster doesn’t end when the storm passes,” LDH Secretary Bruce Greenstein said in a news release. “As families continue rebuilding their lives, these temporary food assistance programs help meet an essential need. Through D-SNAP and automatic supplemental benefits for eligible SNAP recipients, we’re making it easier for eligible households to access the support available to them.” 

To determine eligibility, LDH will review household income received and disaster-related expenses paid during the disaster period of June 17 through July 16.

Applicants can use LDH’s benefits calculator to determine eligibility: Louisiana Benefits Estimator

Not everyone living in an eligible parish will qualify. A general description of the eligible areas is provided below, though residents should use the online eligibility map and address lookup tool at D-SNAP Eligible ZIP Codes and Census Tracts before applying. After opening the map, click the magnifying glass to search for an address.

General description of eligible areas:

Avoyelles Parish

• ZIP code 71362
• Areas generally along LA 1 from Simmesport to Mansura, south of Marksville to the St. Landry Parish line, and west of Marksville to the Rapides Parish line

St. Landry Parish

• Areas generally north of U.S. 190, east of Bayou Teche, west of LA 359 to the Pointe Coupee Parish line, and north of Lebeau east of U.S. 71

Terrebonne Parish

• Portions of Gray, Schriever, Bayou Cane, eastern Houma, Bayou Blue, Bourg, Dulac, Theriot and Montegut

St. Tammany Parish

• ZIP codes 70452, 70458, 70460 and 70461

 How to apply

Applications will be accepted July 27-31 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. by calling 1-888-524-3578. Residents should apply according to the first letter of the primary applicant’s last name.