Hurricane Irma: Volusia County residents brave long line for food assistance

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — People who lost food during Hurricane Irma waited for hours for food assistance at the Volusia County Fairgrounds Sunday.

The Florida Disaster Food Assistance Program allows people who make slightly over the threshold for regular food stamps to qualify for similar benefits during emergency situations.

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The line in Volusia County isn’t moving quickly because only 600 people can be processed per hour.

Many people stood in line for more than 4 hours.

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"Even under these tents, it's very hot,” said Debbie Ponder.

For some, the heat became too much, requiring emergency crews to cool people off with water and bags of ice.

"Right about there - that is where I started telling her, 'Let's go!'” said Erick Senecal.

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Senecal and his wife lost all their food in the hurricane.

The Volusia County site is one of many set up by the Florida Department of Children and Families across Central Florida to help hurricane victims apply for food benefits.

Anyone who lives in one of the 48 counties with disaster declarations from Irma can apply for the benefits, worth about two months.

"Eleven days no power. Food - we lost a whole freeze full,” said Ponder.

DCF released the following statement about the event:

Regarding the Food for Florida location in Volusia County, there were major public safety concerns due to lightning in the area and rising water getting close to highly sensitive electrical equipment at the processing site where many people were nearby.  We were very concerned about the real risk of serious and life-threatening injuries due to the rapidly deteriorating severe weather situation.

Although we have been in Volusia County for 55 hours over five consecutive days to process Food for Florida applications, Volusia County residents who were not able to get their applications processed can go to the Food for Florida location that is opening on Wednesday in St. John's County.  Residents who are from counties outside of Volusia can go to the Food for Florida website for more information on the location either in or closest to their home county.

As a reminder, people going to Food for Florida locations are not required to bring all of their family members with them.

For more information, people can go to the Food for Florida website at MyFLFamilies.com/fff

Cox Media Group