Food Voucher Event Cancelled After ‘Overwhelming Response’

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A food voucher giveaway event for victims of Hurricane Irma has been cancelled after police say scuffles broke out and people fainted from the heat while standing in long lines.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that the Broward Sheriff’s Office cancelled Sunday’s voucher giveaway after “safety concerns and overwhelming response” on Saturday at events in North Lauderdale.

The Food for Florida program gives food vouchers to families affected by power outages from Hurricane Irma. The vouchers can be used at supermarkets.

On Saturday, large crowds turned out at three events where the vouchers were being disbursed, creating hours-long waits.

The Department of Children and Families says more than 1.1 million people applied for the program statewide. The agency says it may schedule a make-up day later this month.