Monday was the first day to apply for disaster food stamps. Many called the WDSU newsroom to tell us it has been a long and tough process.Some said they waited for hours to get through. The Department of Children and Family Services said they have been inundated with calls. About 250-350 calls per second. Meanwhile, residents said the department should have been more prepared. Including James Ewers of New Orleans East. He said "We applied and stayed on the phone for roughly two hours. Started this morning. Over and over the line was busy."Ewers said he is disappointed after the long wait. He was denied benefits. He told WDSU the state needs a better process. "Upfront you have to let people know what the qualifications are. Because not everyone is going to qualify or benefit. You waste a lot of time and end up frustrated," Ewers said. Shavana Howard with the Department of Children and Family Services said "We have been having call volume issues all day. And server challenges. But the biggest issue we are having is the call volume." Howard said there is no way the department could have been prepared for the number of calls they have received from residents. At least 12,000 in day one and of that they have been able to process at least 6,000 customers so far. But Howard said there are some issues slowing the process down. "A lot of calls we have been receiving are from folks calling from the wrong phase. From the wrong alphabet. We are not able to serve them anyway. We can only serve individuals in phase one. During phase one," Howard said. The department said they are looking at net income, available resources and disaster-related expenses between the dates of Aug. 26 and Sept. 24, in approving people for these food stamps. In the meantime, they are asking residents to be patient. Ewers said patience is a task itself in this difficult time. "They may not have paperwork together or even roofs over their heads. When you ask folks multiple questions. It's frustrating," Ewers said. DCFS said they are working as quickly as they can. Daily hours are 7:30 a.m.- 6 p.m.Friday's and Saturday's of each week are open to everyone from each phase. PHASE 1 – Sept. 20-25E. Baton Rouge, E. Feliciana, Iberia, Orleans, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Washington, W. Baton Rouge and W. FelicianaDay 1 (Monday, Sept. 20) – Residents with last names beginning with A-FDay 2 (Tuesday, Sept. 21) – G-MDay 3 (Wednesday, Sept. 22) – N-SDay 4 (Thursday, Sept. 23) – T-ZDay 5 (Friday, Sept. 24) – Open for all (letters A-Z) in the Phase 1 parishesDay 6 (Saturday, Sept. 25) – Open for all (letters A-Z) in the Phase 1 parishesPHASE 2 – September 27-October 2Ascension, Assumption, Iberville, Jefferson, Livingston, Plaquemines, St. Helena, St. Martin (lower St. Martin Parish ZIPs only 70339 & 70380), St. Mary and TangipahoaDay 1 (Monday, Sept. 27) – Residents with last names beginning with A-FDay 2 (Tuesday, Sept. 28) – G-MDay 3 (Wednesday, Sept. 29) – N-SDay 4 (Thursday, Sept. 30) – T-ZDay 5 (Friday, Oct. 1) – Open for all (letters A-Z) in the Phase 2 parishesDay 6 (Saturday, Oct. 2) – Open for all (letters A-Z) in the Phase 2 parishesPHASE 3 – October 4-9Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist and TerrebonneDay 1 (Monday, Oct. 4) – Residents with last names beginning with A-FDay 2 (Tuesday, Oct. 5) – G-MDay 3 (Wednesday, Oct. 6) – N-SDay 4 (Thursday, Oct. 7) – T-ZDay 5 (Friday, Oct. 8) – Open for all (letters A-Z) in the Phase 3 parishesDay 6 (Saturday, Oct. 9) – Open for all (letters A-Z) in the Phase 3 parishesAdditional information about DSNAP can be found by texting LADSNAP to 898-211 or by visiting www.dcfs.la.gov/DSNAP.