Louisiana Urges You to Sign Up for Disaster Benefits Now

Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center are currently keeping tabs on Tropical Storm Cristobal. That storm system is expected to move away from Mexico, cross the Gulf, and interact with Louisiana's coastline sometime late Sunday or Monday.

While this might not be the worst storm we've ever seen it could be the first storm of many that we will see this hurricane season. Tropical forecasters and NOAA are predicting an active hurricane season this year so to think Louisiana will skate by with a strong tropical storm as our only tropical concern this year would be irresponsible.

That's why the Department of Children and Family Services is encouraging you to sign up for DSNAP benefits now, even if you aren't receiving SNAP benefits currently. State leaders suggest signing up for disaster benefits now could speed up the process of receiving those benefits in a time of crisis.

If you're already receiving SNAP benefits you don't have to sign up for the DSNAP benefits, you're already included.  And, should disaster benefits be necessary for you or your family the enrollment process will be different for those already receiving the SNAP stipend.

Just to be clear registration does not guarantee benefits. Those DSNAP benefits can only be administered after a federal disaster declaration and approval to the state from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.

Still, it makes sense to do the paperwork or online work now ahead of the crowds. This way you know you and your family will have what is necessary to weather this or any storm that Mother Nature throws in our general direction.