# Presentation: 038294

## Post Katrina:  Dealing with a DisasterEBT:  The Next Generation ConferenceNovember 6, 2005

**Post Katrina:  ****Dealing with a Disaster****EBT:  The Next Generation Conference****November 6, 2005**

**Ellen Vollinger**
**Food  Research and Action Center**
**1875 Connecticut Avenue NW**
**Washington, DC 20009**
**202-986-2200 x3016**
**evollinger@frac.org**

## Prepare, Prepare, Prepare! 

**Prepare, Prepare, Prepare!**

**Use Federal Nutrition Resources to Help Families and Communities Recover**
**See FRAC’s Guide to the Disaster Food Stamp Program and Press Release, posted at: **_[http://www.org.frac/pdf/dfsp05.pdf](http://www.org.frac/pdf/dfsp05.pdf)_** and **_[http://www.frac.org/Press_Release/07.21.05.html](http://www.frac.org/Press_Release/07.21.05.html)_** **
** **
**See FRAC’s Hurricane Katrina Resources Center at: **_[http://](http://www.frac.org/html/disaster/disaster_index.html)__[www.frac.org/html/disaster/disaster_index.html](http://www.frac.org/html/disaster/disaster_index.html)_

## Disaster Food Stamp Benefits Can Be Significant 

**Disaster Food Stamp Benefits Can Be Significant**

**For Amount of Food Stamp Benefit Dollars Flowing into Hard Hit Areas, see FRAC’s “Disaster Comparison Chart,” posted at: http://www.frac.org/pdf/dfsp_chart.pdf**
**Each $1 in Federally Financed Food Stamp Benefits Generates Nearly Twice that in Local Economic Activity  **
**See FRAC’s “Food Stamp Participation: Bolstering Food Stamp Program’s Counter-cyclical Impact Critical in Coming Months,” posted at: http://www.frac.org/html/news/fsp/bolstering.html**

## EBT Cards Help Get Food Stamps to Disaster Victims 

**EBT Cards Help Get Food Stamps to Disaster Victims**

**EBT Gets Benefits Out Efficiently and Timely**
**Moving Up Allotments**
**Replacing Allotments**
**EBT Disaster Food Stamp Cards**
**EBT Cards can be Used Across State Lines**
**EBT Cards Help Clients Redeem Food Benefits in Dignified Way at Retail Outlets**

## Stakeholder Roles and Responsibilities 

**Stakeholder Roles and Responsibilities**

**USDA Headquarters**
**USDA Regional Offices**
**State Governments and APHSA**
**FEMA and other Government Entities (Including Local Governments)**
**EBT Industry**
**Retailers**
**Non-profit Groups**
**Media**

## Importance of Having a Strong Food Stamp Program 

**Importance of Having a Strong Food Stamp Program**

**National Entitlement Structure Responds to Changes in Need**
**Office Infrastructure Must be Adequate to Handle Disaster Food Stamps**
**EBT Disaster Plan**
**Less Stigmatized Benefit**
**Increasing Food Stamp Participation Rate Among Eligibles**
**EBT Interoperability **
**See “Why Food Stamps Matter:  Talking Points,” by FRAC, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and America’s Second Harvest—The Nation’s Food Bank Network, 5/20/05, posted at: http://www.frac.org/Press_Release/05.20.05.html**

## Lessons Learned 

**Lessons Learned**

**Prepare, Prepare, Prepare!**
**Build Relationships Ahead of Time**
**Improve the Food Stamp Benefit and Program Image**
**Have Adequate Food Stamp Program Offices Infrastructure and Outreach Capacity**
**Food Stamp Program Administrative Match Rates**
**Outreach Funding and Toll Free Hotlines**
**Do Not Assume other Stakeholders will Act Without Being Asked**
**Waivers Must Be Requested**
**Role of FEMA**
**Impact of Poverty on Disaster Victims **
**Lack of Vehicles to Evacuate**
**Lack of Resources for Water, Home Protection, Hotel**
**Lack of Savings **
** **
**Role and Impact of Media**

## Performance of Food Stamp Program Affects EBT and Vice Versa 

**Performance of Food Stamp Program Affects EBT and Vice Versa**

**Many Positive Reports About How Food Stamp EBT Cards Helped Clients**
** **
**But EBT Image is Also Affected by How Food Stamp Applications are Processed**
**See “EBT Cards May Face Delays,” **_**Picayune Item**_**, 9/23/05, posted at: ****http://www.picayuneitem.com/articles/2005/09/23/news/01stamps.txt**** ****(delays were not EBT-caused, rather time spent processing applications caused delays)**

## Proposals 

**Proposals**

**APHSA Crossroads II:  New Directions in Social Policy**
**--Recommends USDA Work With States on Nationally Consistent Procedures  **
**--See Crossroads II posted at: http://www.aphsa.org/Publications/crossroadsii.asp**
** **
**Harkin/Leahy Bill (S. 1695) **
**--Would Authorize Longer-Term Assistance for Katrina Victims**
**--For details, go to: http://thomas.loc.gov **
**  **
**NCSL “Summary of Federal Legislative and Executive Branch Actions Taken or Proposed as Responses to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita,” 10/11/05, posted at: http://www.ncsl.org/statefed/Kmatrix.htm**

## Follow Up 

**Follow Up**

**Thank Stakeholders For Work in Serving Families**
**Educate Opinion Makers About Food Stamp and EBT in Disasters**