FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 19, 2004
CONTACT: ESF 14, Public Information (850) 488-4855

DCF Panhandle Offices Open for Business on Monday, September 20, 2004

--Hurricane Ivan-affected area offices open to serve clients;Food stamps will be replaced for September in Ivan-damaged counties--

Tallahassee- The Department of Children & Families offices in areas affected by Hurricane Ivan will be open tomorrow according to the following
schedule:

Escambia County: Operational at the North side Office only. This office is located on the corner of Highway 29 and Interstate 10 and is scheduled to open at 1 p.m. CST upon receipt of a FEMA-provided generator. All other DCF Panhandle locations in Defuniak Springs, Okaloosa County, Ft. Walton Beach, Santa Rosa County and the Child Advocacy Center in Niceville will be open at 8 a.m. CST.

Additionally, all DCF clients currently receiving Economic Self-Sufficiency benefits in Ivan-affected areas will find that their September Electronic Bank Transfer card benefit will be replaced as of 8 a.m. Monday, September 20. This is to allow those clients who have lost food as a result of the storm to purchase additional food items.

This mass-replacement provides much-needed relief benefits to 29,728 Panhandle households for a total of nearly $5.3 million. The average amount per household is $177.90.

For questions, please call your local DCF Office.

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