D-SNAP

D-SNAP, or the Disaster Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, may be implemented because of a “major disaster” or “temporary emergency” to provide temporary assistance to households affected by these misfortunes. A Presidential disaster declaration for individual assistance must be declared for the affected areas to be eligible for D-SNAP. A “major disaster” is any hurricane, tornado, storm, flood, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, earthquake, drought, fire, or other catastrophe that is determined to be a major disaster by the President pursuant to the Disaster Relief Act of 1974, Section 302(a). A similar definition is provided under State law in 24-33.5-703, C.R.S. A “temporary emergency” means an emergency caused by any disaster, resulting from either natural or human causes, other than a major disaster as declared by the President under the Disaster Relief Act of 1974, Section 302(a), which is determined by FNS to have disrupted commercial channels of food distribution. In such Presidentially declared disasters, emergency SNAP allotments can be authorized by the USDA, FNS. In Colorado, the Governor can accept such federal assistance on behalf of the state if they determine and declare a major disaster. When authorized by the Governor and FNS, the state department may authorize those counties, within which all or part of the disaster area lies, to distribute emergency SNAP allotments in those areas. The State Department shall provide special certification material and forms designed for certification of disaster victims. Certification shall be done for households that are victims of a disaster that disrupts commercial channels of food distribution; if such households need temporary SNAP and if commercial channels of food distribution have again become available to meet the temporary food needs of those households.