24,700 Families Receive Disaster Food Stamps In Seven Days

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL --- Preliminary numbers released by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) today show 24,753 families, which included 71,604 persons, have received Disaster Food Stamps totaling $7.0 million dollars as a result of the Jan. 30 ice storm that covered the state.
OKDHS offices geared up for the federal Disaster Food Stamp Program following a Presidential Disaster Declaration issued Feb. 7 that covered 45 counties across the state: Alfalfa, Beaver, Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Cimarron, Cleveland, Comanche, Creek, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Garfield, Garvin, Grady, Grant, Greer, Harmon, Harper, Jackson, Kay, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Major, Noble, Nowata, Oklahoma, Osage, Pawnee, Payne, Pottawatomie, Roger Mills, Rogers, Stephens, Texas, Tillman, Tulsa, Washington, Washita, Woods, and Woodward.

OKDHS offices in the 45 counties began accepting applications Feb. 22 and continued the process through the close of business Feb. 28, including extended business hours and the weekends in most offices.

The Disaster Food Stamp Program is designed to help households who experienced one or all of the following criteria:

• Food loss as a direct result of loss of electricity - power must be verified to have been off for a period of time where loss of food occurred.
• Loss of income as a result of inability to work - inability to get to work due to the storm; loss of income due to inability to get to work; lost jobs due to the storm, etc.
• Unexpected documented disaster expenses as a result of the storm - expenses are as a result of the storm; expenses incurred during the Disaster Benefit Period; reimbursements are not received or expect to be received during the Disaster Benefit Period.
  

Only 547 household applications were denied because families did not meet the criteria.

###

MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES: Totals by county are below for your convenience.

Oklahoma Disaster Food Stamps

Cumulative Issuance Report, By County

This table displays the issuance of Oklahoma Disaster Food Stamps by County. These are the early totals as reported by the OKDHS Family Support Services Food Stamp Unit.