Hurricane Irma Victims May Qualify For Disaster Food Program

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Florida officials have announced help for families impacted by Hurricane Irma. The Florida Department of Children and Families said the Food for Florida Disaster Food Assistance Program will be in effect for 48 of the state's 67 counties. Details on local Food for Florida sites will be posted on the Food for Florida website as they become available.

“We are working around the clock to provide relief to those affected by Hurricane Irma damage,” said DCF Secretary Mike Carroll. The program is being operated in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “We will continue to stand side-by-side with those who need us as they get back on their feet. We encourage those in need of food assistance to pre-register if possible through the website so we can quickly serve those in need.”

To qualify for the Food for Florida Disaster Food Assistance program, applicants must have lived or worked in one of the counties declared for FEMA Individual Assistance on Sept. 5, and not be receiving food assistance through the regular Food Assistance Program." (For more hurricane news or local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Miami Patch, and click here to find your local Florida Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

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In addition, eligible individuals and families must have suffered a disaster-related loss, such as damage to their homes or self-employment property, loss of food, reduction or loss of income, or have incurred other disaster related expenses.

"Applicants must also be financially eligible," according to officials. "DCF will provide or mail Electronic Benefits Transfer cards to eligible individuals and families to use at authorized USDA food retailers. The program counts only income and expenses from Sept. 5 through Oct. 4, 2017."

Pre-registration will be available on the Food for Florida website and open for people in need of food assistance in eligible counties through Oct. 30. Food for Florida sites in Pinellas, Bradford, Union, Alachua, Lake, Sumter, and Citrus counties will open next week.

Individuals who lived or worked in one of those counties can pre-register beginning Friday at 2 p.m. Pre-registration for other eligible counties will be available prior to the local sites opening. Individuals, families, and authorized representatives that pre-register must still visit a Food for Florida site, listed on the Food for Florida website, to be interviewed.

Individuals may also apply at the Food for Florida site locations without pre-registering with a valid Florida Driver License or Florida Identification card.

Visit the Food for Florida website for more information on pre-registration, site locations, and hours of operation.

Photo courtesy Miami Beach Police Department