This didn't take long.
How many people in this group actually -did- suffer any flooding?
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Crowd for food vouchers becomes unruly
A large crowd responding to a report of emergency food vouchers for flood victims became unruly this morning at the Marcia P. Coggs Human Services building at 1220 W. Vliet St.
"It's bad over there apparently," said Milwaukee Police Lt. Anthony Boylan. "They've got a lot of squads over there. Fights have been breaking out. Some woman had chest pain for stress."
Information was given out that the office was giving out free food vouchers, but they were only taking applications through FEMA for food vouchers, Boylan said.
Boylan said 34 police squads were sent to the scene, where people had been lining up since 5 a.m.
Anne E. Schwartz, police spokeswoman, said that by 7 a.m., 2,500 people were lined up and some of them started to rush the doors. Several people suffered minor injuries, she said.
Police have shut down southbound traffic on Walnut at 13th St and parts of Vliet St.
Told of the incident in Milwaukee, over reports of a food stamp distribution, a FEMA spokeswoman said that FEMA would not be involved with food stamp distribution and was unaware of any reports about it in the Milwaukee area.
Eileen Force, a spokeswoman for Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, said her understanding is that applications for general flood assistance were to be taken at the location, but that somehow a rumor developed related to the food stamps.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 19 counties in Wisconsin - including Milwaukee County - have been designated for the Disaster Food Stamp Program.
All told, 92 flood-struck counties in Wisconsin, Iowa and Indiana have been made eligible for the program.
According to the Department of Agriculture's web page: "Through (the program) people who might not ordinarily qualify for food stamps may be eligible if they have had disaster damage to their homes or expenses related to protecting their homes, or if they have lost income as a result of the disaster, or have no access to bank accounts or other resources."
How many people in this group actually -did- suffer any flooding?
----------
Crowd for food vouchers becomes unruly
A large crowd responding to a report of emergency food vouchers for flood victims became unruly this morning at the Marcia P. Coggs Human Services building at 1220 W. Vliet St.
"It's bad over there apparently," said Milwaukee Police Lt. Anthony Boylan. "They've got a lot of squads over there. Fights have been breaking out. Some woman had chest pain for stress."
Information was given out that the office was giving out free food vouchers, but they were only taking applications through FEMA for food vouchers, Boylan said.
Boylan said 34 police squads were sent to the scene, where people had been lining up since 5 a.m.
Anne E. Schwartz, police spokeswoman, said that by 7 a.m., 2,500 people were lined up and some of them started to rush the doors. Several people suffered minor injuries, she said.
Police have shut down southbound traffic on Walnut at 13th St and parts of Vliet St.
Told of the incident in Milwaukee, over reports of a food stamp distribution, a FEMA spokeswoman said that FEMA would not be involved with food stamp distribution and was unaware of any reports about it in the Milwaukee area.
Eileen Force, a spokeswoman for Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, said her understanding is that applications for general flood assistance were to be taken at the location, but that somehow a rumor developed related to the food stamps.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 19 counties in Wisconsin - including Milwaukee County - have been designated for the Disaster Food Stamp Program.
All told, 92 flood-struck counties in Wisconsin, Iowa and Indiana have been made eligible for the program.
According to the Department of Agriculture's web page: "Through (the program) people who might not ordinarily qualify for food stamps may be eligible if they have had disaster damage to their homes or expenses related to protecting their homes, or if they have lost income as a result of the disaster, or have no access to bank accounts or other resources."

