Incident: Severe Storms
When: July 21, 2026
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- On Sept. 2, 2026, we approved the West Virginia Department of Human Services (WVDHS) request to operate Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) in Lewis, Upshur, Ritchie, and Pleasants counties in response to the severe storms that began on July 21, 2026. President Donald J. Trump issued a Major Disaster Declaration designating Lewis, Upshur, Ritchie, and Pleasants counties as eligible for Federal Individual Assistance on Aug. 3, 2026. The state plans to operate the D-SNAP on Sept. 21, 2026, through Sept. 25, 2026.
- On Sept. 2, 2026, we approved the West Virginia Department of Human Services (WVDHS) request to allow for the expungement of unused Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) benefits 90 days after the date the benefits become available. The waiver is for the counties of Lewis, Upshur, Ritchie, and Pleasants and will remain in effect until all benefits issued for the disaster benefit period of July 21, 2026, through Aug. 19, 2026, have been expunged.
- On Aug. 28, 2026, we approved the West Virginia Department of Human Services (WVDHS) request to waive the statutory definition of "food" under Section 3(k)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended and accompanying regulations at 7 CFR 271.2. The waiver allows SNAP households in Lewis, Pleasants, Ritchie, and Upshur counties to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits, in order to increase access to food after power outages as a result of severe storms that began July 21, 2026. The waiver is in effect through Sept. 26, 2026. Retailers may need as much as 24-36 hours to make changes that will allow for the sale of hot foods.
Past Responses
- 2026
Incident: Severe Storms
When: July 21, 2026
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- On Aug. 11, 2026, we approved the West Virginia Department of Human Services (WVDHS) request to extend the 10-day reporting requirement waiver for food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages due to severe storms that began on July 21, 2026. The initial waiver, approved on Aug. 6, 2026, was approved statewide. This extension approval applies to Barbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Lewis, Pleasants, Ritchie, and Upshur counties. The waiver is now in effect through Aug. 20, 2026.
- On Aug. 6, 2026, we approved the West Virginia Department of Human Services (WVDHS) request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement for food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages due to severe storms that began on July 21, 2026. The waiver applies statewide and is in effect through Aug. 10, 2026.
Incident: Severe Storms
When: June 22, 2026
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP)
- On July 2, 2026, we approved the West Virginia Department of Human Services (DHS) request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement for food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages due to severe storms that began on June 22, 2026. The waiver applies to Boone, Logan, and Raleigh counties. The waiver is in effect through July 13, 2026.
Incident: Winter Storms
When: Jan. 25, 2026
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP)
- On Jan. 30, 2026, we approved the West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement for food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages due to severe winter storms that began on Jan. 25, 2026. The waiver applies statewide and is in effect through Feb. 14, 2026.
- 2025
Incident: Severe Storm
When: June 14, 2025
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP)
- On June 25, 2025, we approved the West Virginia Department of Human Services (WVDHS) request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement for food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages due to a severe storm that began on June 14, 2025. The waiver applies Marion, Monongalia, and Ohio counties. The waiver is in effect through July 7, 2025.
- 2024
Incident: Severe Storms
When: Feb. 15, 2025
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP)
- On March 17, 2025, FNA approved the West Virginia Department of Human Services (DHS) amended request to allow for the expungement of unused disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) benefits 90 days after the date the benefits become available. The amended waiver is for the counties of Logan and Wayne. The initial waiver approved on March 13, 2025, was for Mercer, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties. The waiver will remain in effect until all benefits issued for the disaster benefit period of Feb. 15, 2025, through March 16, 2025, have been expunged.
- On March 14, 2025, FNA approved West Virginia Department of Human Services (DHS) request to expand Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) operations to two additional counties in response to the impact of severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding that began on Feb. 15, 2025. President Trump issued a Major Disaster Declaration with Individual Assistance (DR-4861-WV) for four counties on Feb. 26, 2025. The declaration was amended on March 10, 2025, to add two counties. The initial waiver approved on March 12, 2025, authorized D-SNAP operations McDowell, Merce, Mingo and Wyoming counties from March 17, 2025, through March 21, 2025. This modification approves the state to operate D-SNAP for Logan and Wayne counties from March 24, 2025, through March 28, 2025.
- On March 13, 2025, FNA approved the West Virginia DHS request to allow for the expungement of unused disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) benefits 90 days after the date the benefits become available. The waiver is for the counties of Mercer, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming and will remain in effect until all benefits issued for the disaster benefit period of Feb. 15, 2025, through March 16, 2025, have been expunged.
- On March 12, 2025, FNA approved West Virginia DHS request to operate Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) in four counties in response to the impact of severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding that began on Feb. 15, 2025. President Trump issued a Major Disaster Declaration with Individual Assistance (DR-4861-WV) for McDowell, Mercer, Mingo and Wyoming counties. The state plans to operate the D-SNAP March 17, 2025, through March 21, 2025.
Incident: Severe Storms
When: Sept. 26, 2024
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP)
- On Oct. 3, 2024, FNA approved the West Virginia Department of Health, Health Facilities, and Human Services (DHHHS) request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement for food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages from severe storms beginning on Sept. 26, 2024. The waiver applies to residents of Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Summers, Wayne, Webster, and Wyoming counties. The waiver is in effect through Oct. 28, 2024.
Incident: Severe Storms
When: April 2, 2024
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP)
- On April 11, 2024, FNA approved the West Virginia Department Human Services request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement for food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages due to severe storms that began on April 2, 2024. The waiver request applies to residents of Barber, Boone, Brooke, Cabell, Clay, Fayette, Hancock, Kanawha, Lincoln, Marshall, Mason, Nicholas, Ohio, Putnam, Roane, Wayne, Wetzel and Wood counties and is in effect through April 22, 2024.
- 2022
Incident: Severe Storms
Began: July 26, 2022
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP)
- On Aug. 2, 2022, FNA approved the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources’ request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement for replacement of food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages and severe thunderstorms that began on July 26, 2022. The waiver applies to Fayette, Greenbrier, Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties and is in effect through Aug. 25, 2022.
- 2021
Incident: Heavy Rains and Flooding
Began: Feb. 27, 2021
Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP)
- On June 21, 2021, FNA approved West Virginia's request to operate D-SNAP in four counties in response to the impact of heavy rain and flooding between Feb. 27, 2021, and March 1, 2021. The state will begin the application period on June 28, 2021.