BATON ROUGE - Despite the threat of Hurricane Ike, the Louisiana Department of Social Services (DSS) processed 18,160 Disaster Food Stamp applications today at 12 sites-only nine of which were open for the full day. The majority of sites closed today in anticipation of the storm. A total of 149,432 applications have been processed over the past four days. Here is a breakdown of today's numbers:

Applications processed
9/12/2008
Region 1 - Orleans 8,000
Region 2 - Baton Rouge 5,369
Region 3 - Covington 3,067
Region 7 - Alexandria 1,706
Region 8 - Shreveport 18
TOTAL 18,160
(Applications processed are estimates
based on hand counts)

As of right now, 11 sites intend to open on Saturday, Sept. 13. The rest will determine when it is safe to reopen. DSS officials will work to ensure that those parishes will be able to make up any lost time with an extension of the application process. Those sites are listed below and DSS suggests that applicants visit www.dss.louisiana.gov for the most up to date list or call 1-888-524-3578.

East Feliciana Parish Early Childhood Learning Center, East Feliciana, 9414 Plank Road, Clinton
East Baton Rouge OFS, EBR, 1919 North Boulevard, Baton Rouge,
Capitol High School, EBR, 1000 North 23rd Street, Baton Rouge
St. Gabriel Community Center, Iberville, 1745 Highway 30, St. Gabriel
West Baton Rouge OFS, WBR, 1622 Court Street, Port Allen
New Orleans Convention Center, 900 Convention Boulevard, New Orleans
Bossier OFS, Bossier, 2123, Shed Road, Bossier City
Caddo OFS, Caddo, 1525 Fairfield Avenue, Shreveport
Ouachita OFS, Ouachita, 1306 North 19th Street, Monroe
Avoyelles OFS, Avoyelles, 607 Tunica Drive, Marksville
Alexandria Mall - Stein Mart, Rapides, 3437 Masonic Drive, Alexandria

With Hurricane Ike possibly necessitating the need for the activation of a second Disaster Food Stamp Program, DSS is asking eligible applicants to keep their Electronic Benefit Cards in case they are needed again.

Individuals with disabilities can designate an authorized representative to apply for Disaster Food Stamps on their behalf. Also, each site manager has developed special procedures for assisting the disabled. Applicants with special needs should make themselves known to the site manager or staff at the site

In order to help the elderly, Council on Aging staff members have been trained to administer Disaster Food Stamps. People 60 years of age or older should contact their local parish Councils on Aging for the nearest Disaster Food Stamp Assistance Application Site for seniors. If the local Council on Aging is not available, seniors should contact the Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs at 1-877-340-9100.

DSS Secretary Williamson emphasized that the Disaster Food Stamps program has strictly defined income eligibility and can only be used for the purchase of food, and reminded participants in the regular Food Stamp Program that they do not need to apply. Their benefits are automatically lifted to the maximum amount allowable for September and their August benefits have been increased by 20 percent in order to replace lost food.