Information for Hurricane Katrina Evacuees from the Alabama Department of Human Resources

1. If you currently have an EBT card from Louisiana and Mississippi, all current recipients have received their September benefits early. Be advised that you need to use your card at the major chain stores, such as Kroger or Wal-Mart. Look for a store that you recognize from your home area, as they should be able to accept your card.

2. If you need food assistance and are not currently receiving Food Stamp benefits, you may apply in the Food Stamp office here at 2206 Oakwood Avenue.

3. Manna House Community Connections is supplying food to evacuees. Please call 256-503-4848 or 256-653-7883 - you may have to leave a message but you will be contacted.

4. Major stores in Alabama will honor Louisiana WIC vouchers. If you are from Mississippi and have received WIC in that state, you need to contact the Madison County Health Department, who will take your application and issue your WIC vouchers, if you are eligible.

5. If you receive Temporary Assistance to Needy Families [TANF] in Louisiana or Mississippi and have your EBT card, you can access your benefits in Alabama. DHR will accept an application for assistance from you if you intend to continue to reside in Alabama.

6. If you need a place to stay, you may contact the American Red Cross for shelter information at 536-0084. Red Cross will be at the Christian Life Center behind the First Baptist Church on St. Clair Street here in Huntsville at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 to provide assistance.

7. If you need to have a prescription filled/or have other medical needs and have a Medicaid card from Louisiana or Mississippi, the cards are being accepted here. Again, please use at major chain stores and pharmacies similar to what you would find in your home area.

8. If you have been receiving Child Support in Louisiana or Mississippi, here are the numbers for you to call in order to give a change of address or get information about your payments:
Louisiana - 1-800-256-4650 or 1-225-922-8100
Mississippi - 1-866-388-2836

If you are from MISSISSIPPI
Food Stamp Certification Status: 1-800-948-4060
Replacement EBT Cards: 1-866-449-9488
EBT Customer Service: 1-866-512-5087
The e-mail address mdhsdisaster@mdhs.state.ms.us for Mississippi is available for requests on FS certification status or help with replacement EBT cards.

If you are from LOUISIANA
Food Stamp Certification Status: 1-888-997-1117
Medicaid Eligibility Status: 1-800-473-2783 and 1-877-455-9955

9. The Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services has established a toll-free telephone number to assist hurricane evacuees who have relocated to Alabama and have disabilities and evacuees who have a child or other family member with a disability. [MORE INFO]

For other needs, contact the community HELPLINE at 256-716-1000.

If you need assistance locating missing family members, you can use the following web sites: http://72.3.171.154/patient_lookup.cfm or http://www.alaha.org/