Provision of Food in Disasters

Government and NGO Food Provision

Once the local, state, or federal government, or nongovernmental agency (NGO) become involved with food provision, it becomes expensive and can sometimes require a monumental effort. One primary reason for the expense is the type of food that can be procured in a moment's notice or pre-positioned for future disasters. In either case, food becomes a logistical issue. The procurement, storage, and distribution of food will consume assets that could be used for evacuation or protection of citizens. The long shelf life and massive quantities required for pre-positioned food assets are primary factors during the planning process.

There are a number of ways the federal government and states provide emergency food assistance following a disaster. Some are based upon existing nutrition entitlement programs, and others offer assistance programs after a disaster. A recent report details the programs available at the federal level to provide food in times of crisis. Both the Food Stamp Act and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act provide the president and the U.S. Department of Agriculture board powers of authority to provide emergency food relief after disasters. The primary federal nutrition assistance program during disaster relief is the Disaster Food Stamp Program (DFSP). In recent years, the DFSP has provided relief after flooding in Pennsylvania, forest fires in Arizona, tornadoes in Iowa, and a blackout in Michigan. During the hurricanes of 2005 (Katrina, Rita, and Wilma), the DFSP served 2.4 million households and distributed almost $1 billion in benefits. The DFSP provides replacement benefits for food stamp entitled households.

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