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Governor Newsom Expands Storm State of Emergency


The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division is sending this notice to all statewide participants in the Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) in response to an emergency proclamation issued on March 22, 2024, by Governor Gavin Newsom regarding winter storms.

SACRAMENTO – Supporting the ongoing recovery from early February storms, Governor Gavin Newsom today expanded the storm state of emergency declared last month External link opens in new window or tab. to 11 additional counties – Alameda, Butte, Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Monterey, Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Sonoma and Sutter – and requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for several communities impacted by widespread flooding, mudslides and debris flows during the storms.

Guidelines on Disaster Relief

For information on Governor Newsom’s emergency proclamation, please refer to the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom web page External link opens in new window or tab..

For specific information on CDE Disaster Relief Guidelines, please refer to the CDE Disaster Guidance for Child Nutrition Programs web page.

For information on disaster assistance and resources in California, please refer to the CDE Disaster Resources web page.

For information on emergency resources from federal, state, and local agencies, please refer to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) website External link opens in new window or tab..

Reimbursement Claims Submission Flexibility

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) can authorize the CDE to allow school food authorities, institutions, and sponsors to submit claims beyond the 60-day submission requirement. Claims submitted after 60 days, as a result of a disaster, are not subject to the one-time exception for late submissions. For more information on late claim submission due to disasters, refer to the USDA Policy Memoranda SP 46-2014, CACFP 12-2014, SFSP 18-2014 web document at USDA Food and Nutrition (FNS) Disaster Assistance web page External link opens in new window or tab. .

For assistance with submitting your claim, contact your Child Nutrition Fiscal Service Analyst on the CDE Nutrition Services web page.

Use of U.S. Department of Agriculture Foods During a State/Federally Declared Disaster

Disaster relief organizations may designate schools as community feeding sites or request that schools provide their USDA Foods to other feeding sites. USDA Foods are to be released on request to recognized disaster relief organizations such as the American Red Cross or the OES. Information regarding USDA Foods usage, reporting, and claiming procedures during a disaster can be found in Management Bulletin FDP–01–2023 located on the CDE Use of USDA Foods in Disaster Feeding web page.

The Disaster Feeding Guidance for School Food Service Using USDA Foods can be downloaded from the CDE Food Distribution Guidance, Manuals, and Resources web page.

Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding disaster relief for the following programs, please contact:

School Nutrition Programs (SNP) & Summer Meals Unit

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Food Distribution Program (FDP)
  • Augie Aguilar, Food Administration Unit Manager, by phone at 916-445-4850 or by e-mail at aaguilar@cde.ca.gov.
Questions:   Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, March 26, 2024
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