Updated FEMA Information

Even though I am demobilizing, FEMA AND THE STATE REMAIN COMMITTED TO RECOVERY IN LOUISIANA
BATON ROUGE, La. — Although Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the State of Louisiana, making landfall as Category 3 storms, many strides have been made by those on the “road to recovery.” The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State of Louisiana remain committed to these important recovery efforts.

Updated recovery information is as follows:

More than $12.6 billion has been paid out under the National Flood Insurance Program to policyholders in Louisiana. More than 396,000 Louisianans currently hold these policies, with an average coverage of $139,000.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved 10,872 disaster assistance loans for business owners, totaling $1.04 billion and 60,885 loans to renters and homeowners, totaling more than $4.7 billion.

FEMA has issued 1,614,069 housing assistance checks, totaling more than $3.5 billion to Louisiana victims, in the form of rental assistance and home repair reimbursement grants.

More than $2.1 billion in federal dollars has already been allocated for Public Assistance (PA) projects. FEMA awards grants to assist state and local governments and certain private non-profit entities with their response to and recovery from the disaster. The program provides assistance for work including debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the restoration of infrastructure to pre-disaster conditions.

Under the Other Needs Assistance Program, more than $1.3 billion has been distributed to 304,055 Louisiana victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This grant program provides assistance for serious, disaster-related needs.

FEMA has approved more than $725 million in Community Disaster Loans to help keep essential services online in communities hardest hit by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

More than $220 million in disaster unemployment assistance has been approved for 170,896 eligible victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita who signed up during the application period.


-more-


FEMA Remains Committed to Recovery in Louisiana 2-2-2

In addition to household debris removal from rights of way, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, along with private contractors working for some Louisiana Parishes, have removed more than 38.8 million cubic yards of debris (one cubic yard is equivalent to one household dishwasher) under a FEMA-funded mission assignment.

FEMA has completed more than 1 million housing inspections in Louisiana. Inspectors will record all disaster-related structural damages to homes, as well as document damages to personal property.

· More than 872,664 Louisiana residents have sought information at Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) throughout the affected areas. Presently, 11 DRC’s are staffed by representatives of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), crisis counselors, disaster mitigation specialists and other personnel from federal, state and voluntary agencies.