Hurricane briefs for Sept. 23, 2008

• Advocate staff report
• Published: Sep 23, 2008 - Page: 8B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Baton Rouge Zoo reopens Wednesday
BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo will reopen from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, having cleaned up from Hurricane Gustav.

“Our staff has worked around the clock to open our doors as soon as possible,” Zoo Director Phil Frost said in a news release.

Crews removed fallen trees and cleared exhibits and walkways. Some animal exhibits and other common areas sustained damage, such as the KidsZoo and Otter Pond boardwalks, and repairs will continue.

Also, the zoo on Sunday will host Penny Day, which had been rescheduled because of the hurricane. Penny Day celebrates elephants and is named after Penny, the zoo’s first elephant.

Special admission applies for Penny Day — one child’s admission at regular price, the second child’s for a penny — but not in combination with any other discount offer, coupons or promotions or group rates.

Visit http://www.brzoo.org or call (225) 775-3877 for details.

Food Stamp aid sites closing, relocated
The state Department of Social Services said Monday that 434,716 eligible households have been provided federal Disaster Food Stamp Program benefits and were issued cards with $152,875,137 in benefits.

DSS estimated that with the inclusion of 14 new parishes in the program, the number of applicants could reach almost 600,000.

Based on recommendations of local authorities, the department is shifting some operations from standalone sites back to local Offices of Family Support.

Today, the following sites will be closed or relocated:

• East Feliciana Parish: East Feliciana Parish Early Childhood Center will close; applicants will go to East Feliciana OFS, 9742 Plank Road, Clinton.
• East Baton Rouge Parish: Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church will close; applicants will go to East Baton Rouge North OFS, 2751 Wooddale Blvd., Baton Rouge.
• Iberville Parish: Applicants who previously would have reported to the Plaquemine Civic Center and the St. Gabriel Community Center will now go to the Iberville OFS, 23075 La. 1, Plaquemine.
• Pointe Coupee Parish: Pointe Coupee Multi-Use Center will close; applicants will go to the Pointe Coupee OFS, 120 Alamo St., New Roads.
• West Feliciana Parish: West Feliciana Parks and Recreation will close; applicants will go to East Feliciana OFS, 9742 Plank Road, Clinton.
• St. Mary Parish: Applicants who previously would have reported to the Franklin Recreation Center and West St. Mary Civic Center may now report to the St. Mary OFS, 604 Second St., Franklin, or Sacred Heart Church, 318 Third St., Morgan City.
• St. Landry Parish: Opelousas Teen Center will close; applicants will go to the St. Landry OFS, 6069 I-49 S. Service Road, Suite A, Opelousas.
• St. Martin Parish: Magnolia City Park will close; applicants will report to the St. Martin OFS, 1109 S. Main St., St. Martinville.
• On Wednesday, Blackham Coliseum operation in Lafayette will close; applicants will go to the Lafayette OFS, at Brandywine VI Complex, Suite 100, 825 Kaliste Saloom Road, Lafayette.

Participants in the regular state Food Stamp Program do not need to apply for disaster aid because any revised benefits will automatically be added to their Electronic Benefit card.

Individuals with disabilities can designate an authorized representative to apply for Disaster Food Stamps on their behalf.

People 60 years or older should contact their local parish Councils on Aging for the nearest Disaster Food Stamp Assistance Application Site for seniors. If the local Council on Aging is not available, seniors should contact the Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs at 1-877-340-9100. For information about Disaster Food Stamps, visit http://www.dss.state.la.us or call 1-888-LAHELPU (1-888-524-3578).

United Way gives $360,000 in BR area
The Capital Area United Way has given out more than $360,000 in disaster relief assistance to 11 local nonprofit agencies to help support immediate community needs in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav.