DHS offering food stamp assistance to storm victims

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ People in households that were hit hard by last month's ice storm can begin applying this weekend for food stamp assistance from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.

Thursday, February 21st 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ People in households that were hit hard by last month's ice storm can begin applying this weekend for food stamp assistance from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.

The aid is being offered in 45 counties. The food stamps are aimed at households that lost food as a direct result of loss of electricity, lost income as a result of inability to work, and had unexpected documented disaster expenses as a result of the storm.

DHS spokesman George Johnson said officials have not estimated how many people are eligible to receive help, but they believe assistance cases will be comparable to the $15.9 million in aid issued after the Dec. 25-26, 2000, ice storm.

At that time, disaster food stamp benefits were issued to 56,060 families, with the average amount per family being $285.

``That was the largest disaster relief issuance in the state's history,'' Johnson said Wednesday. ``We're preparing to address an issuance about that size.''

This year, more than 245,000 Oklahoma households experienced power outages as a result of the Jan. 30 storm. Rural areas served by Oklahoma's electric cooperatives were especially hit hard. Some are still without power.

Officials with the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives said residential outages in areas served by the organization's cooperatives stood at 2,320 Wednesday, down from 2,960 on Tuesday.

Johnson said a presidential disaster declaration approved activating the food stamp program in the following counties: 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.

Most DHS offices will be open extended hours, including Saturday and Sunday, from Friday through Feb. 28.

Johnson said agency workers were being trained and staff members were getting equipment in place Wednesday to process the emergency assistance applications.

The agency's county sites rarely open on weekends, but Johnson said the need to quickly provide the disaster relief assistance prompted the extended hours.