The last site for Disaster SNAP in Central Florida opened Tuesday morning in Marion County.
- New Food for Florida site opens in Marion County
- Officials expect about 10,000 people each day
- 937,000 applications have been processed statewide
Officials with the Florida Department of Children and Families say they had to open the site at the Florida Horse Park on County Road 475 in Ocala after the one at the Marion County Sheriff's Office closed several days early because of safety and traffic concerns.
Officials expect about 10,000 people each day.
Doors opened at 7 a.m., but Tanya Webb says her family started waiting in the car line at 5:30 a.m. Webb says Hurricane Irma knocked out their power for six days.
"We lost everything that was in our refrigerator, and I had just went shopping before the hurricane, spent my whole check trying to fill up before the hurricane," said Webb.
DCF officials say have processed more than 937,000 applications statewide for the Disaster Food Stamp Program. Officials say more than $1.2 billion in federal disaster food assistance.
Officials say 88,000 people showed up to the site at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, with some waiting up to seven hours in line.
"I had friends who had to miss a full day of work," said Elease Samms. "They were in line for four to six hours, where as this was I think 2 hours total for the entire thing."
Those who qualify are getting EBT cards.
Officials say a family of four could get about $1,300 and an individual could get about $400.
The Marion County site is open from 7 a.m until 6 p.m. through Thursday.
Officials say if they get overwhelmed, they will have to limit it to county residents.
D-SNAP is not for current food assistance customers and there are other eligibility requirements.
DCF officials are urging people to pre-register online.