Food benefits available to some Arkansans affected by tornadoes

Tornado-affected residents of Cross, Lonoke and Pulaski counties may be eligible for help obtaining food under the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP), state and federal officials announced Monday.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said approximately 1,600 households that may not normally be eligible under regular Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) rules may qualify for D-SNAP — if they meet certain criteria, including the disaster income limits and have qualifying disaster-related expenses.

The Arkansas Department of Human Services said in a statement that anyone who resided within one of the counties and zip codes below and suffered disaster losses during the storms may be eligible to receive this D-SNAP assistance:

•    Little Rock (72205, 72207, 72212, 72223, 72227, 72211)
•    North Little Rock (72113, 72117, 72118, 72120)
•    Scott (72142)
•    Jacksonville (72076)
•    Cabot (72023)
•    Parkin (72373)
•    Wynne (72396)

Recipients of D-SNAP assistance must have lived in the disaster area at the time of the tornado and must have suffered loss or damages.

D-SNAP extends benefits to many households that would not ordinarily qualify but suddenly need food assistance because of a disaster. Those who qualify are provided an EBT card (electronic debit-like card) that can be used to purchase food items at authorized retailers.

Eligibility is contingent upon one of the following conditions: damage to or destruction of a home or self-employed business, loss of income, a significant delay in receiving income due to the disaster,  or unreimbursed disaster-related expenses.

People already enrolled in the regular SNAP are not eligible for D-SNAP assistance but may be eligible to receive supplements to their regular benefit amount if they were affected by the disaster. Those recipients should reach out to their county DHS office.

Affected residents can apply from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. starting Wednesday, April 26, through Tuesday, May 2. Applications may be taken at the following locations:

•    The Pulaski South County DHS Office, 1105 MLK Jr. Drive, Little Rock, Phone: 501-682-9200.
•    The Pulaski Southwest County DHS Office, 6801 Baseline Road, Little Rock, 501-371-1100.
•    The Pulaski North County DHS Office, 1900 E. Washington Ave., North Little Rock, 501-682-0100.
•    The Pulaski Jacksonville County DHS Office, 2636 W. Main St., Jacksonville, 501-371-1200.
•    The Lonoke County DHS Office, 100 Park St., Lonoke, 501-676-5643.
•    The Cross County DHS Office, 803 Highway 64 East, Wynne, 870-238-8553.

Additional resources from DHS for those affected by the March 31 tornadoes are available at humanservices.arkansas.gov/u/arstrong, and resources from other agencies across the state as well as details on donations and volunteering are posted at HelpArkansas.com.