For Immediate Release:
May 2, 2014

Contact:
Michelle Glady
DCF Press Secretary
(850) 717-4450

DCF Issuing EBT Benefits Early to Clients Affected by Panhandle Flooding
Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton clients will receive EBT benefits on May 5 at 12 a.m.

TALLAHASSEE— For the counties of Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton the Florida Department of Children and Families is issuing the May distribution of food assistance benefits early on Monday, May 5 in response to the disastrous effects of the Panhandle flooding. The intent of the measure is to ensure that storm-impacted customers have an adequate food supply during the disaster recovery period.

The advance distribution applies only to participants of the regular food assistance program in the affected counties. By issuing May benefits early in the month, current food assistance recipients will be able to access their benefits by using their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card.

Approximately 58,002 households will benefit from the early release.

Florida - State Emergency Response Team - Situation Report No. 3
SPRING 2014 FLOODING UPDATE: Friday, May 02, 2014, 12:00 p.m.
(4 page .PDF report)
http://www.floridadisaster.org/eoc/PressReleases/
05%2002%2014%20SitRep.pdf

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A flooded neighborhood at the intersection of South Sunset Drive and Poiciana Drive in Gulf Breeze.(Photo: Rob Johnson/***@***.***)

pnj.com - by Michael Scott Davidson - May 3, 2014

. . . 10:16 a.m. update: A group of residents this morning are giving up on aid and leaving a neighborhood at the intersection of South Sunset Drive and Poiciana Drive in Gulf Breeze. About a dozen people were packing up their belongings, loading their possessions into trucks parked on the other side of water that has cut off the neighborhood for days.

For days, residents in the area have speculated on when help would arrive to pump water out of flooded neighborhoods and provide relief.

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