MONTGOMERY, Ala. – SNAP recipients in 20 Alabama counties have been approved for automatic replacement benefits to offset food losses caused by Hurricane Zeta, the Alabama Department of Human Resources announced today.

The following counties are approved for replacement benefits: Autauga, Bibb, Butler, Calhoun, Chilton, Clarke, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Lowndes, Mobile, Monroe, Perry, Randolph, Shelby, Talladega, Tallapoosa and Wilcox. On Monday, SNAP recipients in these counties should have received a replacement of 40% of their regular monthly benefits automatically loaded onto their EBT cards.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service approved the replacement benefits Sunday at the request of DHR. The benefits are intended to replace food purchased with SNAP that was lost to widespread power outages when the storm struck in late October.

Alabama DHR Commissioner Nancy Buckner said, “Many of Alabama’s families most in need are facing tremendous challenges putting food on the table in the aftermath of Hurricane Zeta. Offering a helping hand in the form of these replacement benefits will prevent hunger and ease their financial burden at an especially difficult time.”

SNAP recipients in counties not listed above, who were without power for more than four hours following Hurricane Zeta, may request replacement benefits for food lost by visiting their local DHR office to complete an Affidavit of Loss to determine replacement eligibility.

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