The definition of mechanical disaster means the halting for at least 15 consecutive calendar days of the operation of all equipment available to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) for food benefit issuance.  To be eligible for benefits under the mechanical disaster provisions, a household must already be certified as eligible to participate in the program as of the month in which the disaster occurred.  In the event of a mechanical disaster, all current food benefit recipients are notified that a mechanical disaster has occurred through announcements in the mass media.  Steps are taken to issue benefits by an alternate system.  Persons who apply for food benefits after the breakdown of equipment are handled in the same manner.