Northwest Iowa — State officials are urging northwest Iowans who’ve lost food, appliances or a job due to recent flooding to check to see if they qualify for federal food assistance.
Erin Drinnin is community access coordinator for the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
It’s called Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance or D-SNAP. Drinnin says Iowans who live or work in five northwest Iowa counties can apply for it this week.
The toll free number is 1-877-828-5648.
The USDA approved D-SNAP benefits for victims of severe weather that hit Iowa in April and May, including devastating tornadoes in Greenfield and Minden, but Drinnin says very few people applied and only 15 households were deemed eligible for the expanded food assistance.
Those who qualify for D-SNAP are able to use an electronic benefits card at eligible businesses and may buy prepared, hot food through August 1st, which is not allowed under the traditional SNAP program.
Flood victims can apply for D-SNAP benefits this week at the Crosswinds Church in Spencer, the Emmet County Fairgrounds, the Forster Community Center in Rock Rapids, the Le Mars Bible Church and Main Street Plaza in Rock Valley.
