This week offered the first chance for many to apply for disaster food stamps.
Many people are saying it has been a long and tough process with some even waiting for hours to get through.
The Department of Children and Family Services said they have been inundated with 250-350 calls per second. Shavana Howard with the Department of Children and Family Services said they have been having call volume issues and server challenges. Howard said there is no way the department could have been prepared for the number of calls they have received from residents.
DCFS said they are working as quickly as they can. Daily hours are 7:30 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Phase 1 enrollment runs from Sept. 20-25 and includes St. Tammany and Washington parishes with different days of the week set aside for different letters in caller’s names. Tangipahoa and Livingston residents are in Phase 2, which runs September 27-October 2.
Additional information about DSNAP can be found by texting LADSNAP to 898-211 or by visiting www.dcfs.la.gov/DSNAP.
