While Hurricane Katrina was uniquely catastrophic, each year many lesser disasters can and do wreck personal property, cut access to financial resources, break off links to human services programs, interrupt employment, or result in sudden medical expenses. Any of these misfortunes may precipitate a crisis for low-income communities. In recognition of the need to assist low-income people in such precarious situations, the Food Stamp Act and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act grant the President and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services (USDA FNS) broad authority to provide emergency food relief after disasters. The cornerstone of federal nutrition assistance in a disaster scenario is the Disaster Food Stamp Program (DFSP). The federal child nutrition programs and the distribution of commodity foods also play important roles. Advocates, service providers, public officials, business persons, and individuals should be aware of the potential of food stamps and other federal nutrition benefits to expedite and strengthen the response to disasters of various types.