NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA
September 3, 2008

IM 5047

TO:		County Social Service Directors
Economic Assistance Policy Regional Representatives
Economic Assistance Policy Quality Control Reviewers

FROM:	Tove Mandigo, Director, Economic Assistance Policy

SUBJECT:	Hurricane Gustav Evacuees			 

PROGRAMS:	Food Stamps

EFFECTIVE:	Immediately 

RETENTION: 	September 30, 2008

The following guidance was received for evacuees of declared disaster areas devastated by Hurricane Gustav.  As of right now, the following Louisiana parishes have been declared disaster areas:

Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Sabine, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Vernon, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana Parishes.

Applicants and their families who have evacuated to North Dakota from one of the disaster areas that apply through September 30, 2008 must be:
•	Certified under expedited service rules; and 
•	Opened with the open reason of EG.

Workers must verify participation of the applicant and their family in the disaster area they evacuated from.  If they are currently certified in the disaster area, the applicant must be informed they can use their EBT card in North Dakota.  If the applicant and their family believe they will be residing in North Dakota permanently, the worker must assist in having their case closed in the disaster area.
The Louisiana Office of Family Support, 1-888-LAHELPU (1-888-524-3578), is the number to call regarding replacement EBT cards or to obtain information on applicant’s certification status.  

When a county approves a request for assistance from an evacuee household, the case number and case name must be forwarded to the Food Stamp Office via e-mail to mgee@nd.gov.  The Food Stamp Office is required to provide this information to Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) on a weekly basis.