CITIZEN STAFF REPORT
FRANKFORT — Residents can start applying for disaster food benefits Aug. 24 in 12 Eastern Kentucky counties that suffered significant damage from flooding, landslides and mudslides from storms that began July 26.
“The Eastern Kentucky families impacted by the devastating flooding have lost everything, and these additional benefits are essential to helping these Kentuckians recover and rebuild,” Gov. Beshear said in a news release Monday. “This will be a long road to recovery, but we will be here for our people in the weeks, months and years ahead. We are in this together.”
Residents and people who work in Martin, Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Owsley, Perry, Pike and Whitley counties can submit applications for D-SNAP by calling the Department for Community Based Services at 833-371-8570. Applications will be taken by phone 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
Residents can also apply in person at the CDBS office or a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center.
Residents who currently receive SNAP benefits may also request and apply for replacement benefits due to power outages and other impacts by calling the D-SNAP center or by coming to the local DCBS office or DRC. Any SNAP recipient may request replacement benefits whenever food that was purchased with SNAP benefits is destroyed due to a household disaster.
Recipients in Martin, Breathitt, Knott, Letcher and Perry counties may automatically receive replacements. Any SNAP household receiving a replacement due to lost food in the 12-county area will automatically receive a supplement, bringing their household allotment up to the maximum for their household size for one month.
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in designated counties can apply for other types of assistance at the DRCs, through FEMA at DisasterAssistance.gov, on the FEMA mobile app or by calling 800-621-3362. To see DRC locations, visit governor.ky.gov/FloodResources.
Gov. Beshear encourages those who have been approved for assistance to sign up for direct deposit with FEMA. Call FEMA at 800-621-3362 to sign up for electronic deposits.
For more information about applying for benefits or finding resources in your community, please visit kynect.ky.gov.