Gov. Bev Perdue announced yesterday that the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will provide food assistance in the form of Disaster Food and Nutrition Services benefits (formerly called food stamps) in  Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Dare, Halifax, Hyde, Lenior, Pamlico and Tyrrell. 

 Perdue secured the food assistance through her request for a presidential disaster declaration that was approved last week. The program, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is open to individuals not normally eligible for Food and Nutrition Services benefits, who were affected by Hurricane Irene.

“We have been working diligently with our federal and local partners to ensure that North Carolinians affected by Hurricane Irene get the help they need,” Perdue said. “There is no more urgent or essential need than food. State officials and local departments of social services are working to make sure that people living in the counties hit hard by the storm are able to apply for this emergency assistance.”

Residents of the affected areas of these counties who are not currently receiving Food and Nutrition Services benefits may qualify for temporary assistance for a one-month period if:

• their home was damaged or destroyed
• they have disaster-related expenses
• they lost income
• had food loss as a result of a power loss of at least eight hours from Hurricane Irene.

 
Eligibility is based on available income and resources.

Those applying for Disaster Food and Nutrition Services benefits will be asked to provide:

• proof of their identity along with proof of residency, such as a utility bill,
• and the Social Security numbers, if available, and dates of birth for all members of their household. 

Applicants should apply in the county where they reside. Applicants will have five consecutive days to apply for assistance beginning today, Thursday, Sept. 8.

Households living in one of these nine counties may use their Disaster Food and Nutrition Services Benefits to purchase hot prepared meals from retailers that are located in these counties who are authorized to accept EBT Benefits through Sept. 30.

Households that currently receive Food and Nutrition Services Benefits will automatically receive a replacement of a portion of their August benefits.  These households do not need to apply for the Disaster Food and Nutrition Services Program.

Those needing to apply for Disaster Food and Nutrition Services on Hatteras and Ocracoke can apply in person at following locations:

• In Hatteras, the Dare County office in Frisco.  Dates and hours are Friday and Saturday, Sept. 9 and 10, from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 11, from noon until 5 p.m.  If you do not have transportion, contact Dare Transportation at 252-475-5635.
• In Ocracoke, at Hyde County DSS on Sand Dollar Road. Hours are dates are Thursday through Monday, Sept. 8-12, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Click here to view a complete schedule for all nine counties