Texas has received federal approval to give households in 16 counties more time to request replacement food benefits lost during Tropical Storm Edouard, Gov. Greg Abbott announced in a Sept. 11 news release. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients in the affected counties now have until Sept. 21 to apply.
The extension doubles the window for reporting storm-related food loss. At the request of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Administration approved extending the reporting deadline from 10 days to 20 days for recipients in the affected counties, according to the release.
“Families impacted by severe weather should focus on recovery, not on where their next meal will come from,” Abbott said. “SNAP replacement benefits will help families replace food that was lost or destroyed as we deliver all available resources to affected Texans.”
The extension applies to SNAP recipients in Angelina, Galveston, Hardin, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity and Tyler counties. Once a request is approved, funds should be added to Lone Star Cards within two business days, the release said.
“HHSC is focused on helping Texans recover after Tropical Storm Edouard,” said Stephanie Muth, executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. “We appreciate our federal partners for allowing affected families additional time to replace lost food.”
Recipients can request a replacement by calling 2-1-1, selecting a language and then choosing option 7, the agency said. They may also visit a local HHSC office; office locations are listed under the “Find an Office” link at the bottom of YourTexasBenefits.com.
Families enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children can also request replacement benefits for food purchased with September WIC benefits that was lost to power outages or storm damage, according to the release. WIC clients should contact their local office before Sept. 30, 2026, and offices can be located at TexasWIC.org.
State officials said Texans affected by any disaster can find additional guidance on the commission’s disaster assistance webpage, and that residents looking for local resources such as food or shelter can dial 2-1-1 and select option 1.