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Staffing

The local agency will want to decide:

• Staffing needs for implementation of the program. • Sources of additional staff. o Consider training agency staff not ordinarily involved in the regular program to be prepared to take applications for the D-SNAP. o Arrange with other county or municipal departments to lend staff to assist. o Arrange with community agencies to lend staff. o Consider using volunteers (cannot be used for interviewing or determining benefits) o Maintain a list of the names of staff that are willing to help in other jurisdictions if their own is not affected by the disaster, and submit to the Division of Benefit Programs, which will then act as a clearinghouse for matching staff with locations of need. • How training will be provided for staff not trained by state staff. • What resources other agencies can provide. • How the need for additional certification sites will be assessed, and what sites are available.

Equipping the Site

The local administrator should consider:

• How the need for equipment (including computers and a printer for each computer) and supplies will be determined. • How needed equipment and supplies will be acquired and distributed (source, actual acquisition). • Ensuring that supplies of applications, forms and vault cards are available. • Making arrangements in advance of the disaster for the loan of equipment from other agencies or Home Office.

Crowd Management

In operating the D-SNAP, crowd management will be an important factor. These factors can assist with crowd control:

• Determine client flow. • Estimate wait time from certain points and post signs to inform crowd. • Consider separate lines for elderly or disabled applicants. • Consider staggering applications by asking people to apply by birth date, Social Security Number, alphabetically, or some other method. • Consider giving people in line information sheets indicating what items of information they need to apply so if they are not prepared they can get the information. • Consider giving numbers or colored chips to bring back the next day to people who are in line when lines are cut off so they can be seen the next day without standing in line again. • Arrange for equipment such as ropes, barriers and bullhorns as well as other staff to establish lines, block access to secure areas, and direct traffic flow.

Appendix II 4 TRANSMITTAL #35