Oregonians struggling in the aftermath of a brutal January ice storm just got a break. The USDA has rolled out an extended deadline for those who lost food due to power outages or water damage to request for replacement SNAP benefits. Confirming earlier reports, residents of 11 hard-hit counties now have until February 16 to report their losses. Affected counties include Lane, Benton, Linn, Lincoln, Multnomah, Marion, Columbia, Polk, Clackamas, Washington, and Yamhill, according to KLCC. 

The extension aims to give residents ample time to inventory what food they had to surreptitiously discard and estimate its value. Households that lived through the ice storm-induced blackouts, which knocked down power lines and disrupted the food security of many, are encouraged to apply. For those outside the specified counties, a narrower ten-day window remains the standard policy—as reported by KOIN.

Eligible SNAP recipients can shout out their claim by dialing 800-699-9075 or shooting an email over to [email protected]. And for those without the tech, a local office visit will do just fine. The Oregon Department of Human Services reminds applicants to bring along a list of the spoiled food, its monetary cost, and, if asked, proof of the impairment caused by the storm, as per KEZI.

The requisition process is a straightforward one, with reimbursements expected to land directly onto beneficiaries' Electronic Benefits Transfer cards, equal to the typical monthly benefits received. Residents, upon approval, will be able to replenish their stocks and regain some semblance of normalcy as they slowly recover from the storm's chilling impact, as state in KOIN.