Four Parishes Added to Louisiana Hurricane Ike Disaster 

Release Date: September 14, 2008
Release Number: 1792-020

» More Information on Louisiana Hurricane Ike

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Four southeastern Louisiana parishes were added to the federal major disaster in Louisiana for Hurricane Ike (DR-1792), according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The parishes added are Jefferson, Lafourche, Plaquemines and Terrebonne.

There are now 14 Louisiana parishes eligible for federal funding. The other parishes, which were declared federal major disaster areas on Saturday, are Acadia, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Sabine, St. Mary, Vermilion and Vernon.

Individuals from the declared parishes are eligible for assistance under the Individual Assistance program. Debris removal, including direct federal assistance, is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations in the declared parishes on a cost-sharing basis under FEMA's Public Assistance program.

The new disaster declaration for Hurricane Ike does not affect the previous disaster declaration for Hurricane Gustav. Victims of Hurricane Gustav should continue registering with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to report their damage. Those already registered for Gustav who suffered more damage from Ike should register again for Ike.

The aid to individuals and households may come in the form of both FEMA grants and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans to repair or replace damaged property, as well as other programs. The aid program will not cover all losses, but is designed to help people return to livable housing.

Residents in the declared parishes can register for assistance by going online to www.fema.gov, or by calling FEMA at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585. Either online or by phone, the system is open 24 hours a day seven days a week until further notice.

People who register are urged to have pen and paper ready to take down their case number. The toll-free call takes about 20 minutes, and can be taken in any language.

The call goes more quickly if residents have the following:

For the latest information on the recovery from Hurricane Ike, visit www.emergency.louisiana.gov or call the state's emergency hotline at 1-866-288-2484 to listen to a recorded message with the most up-to-date information.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Last Modified: Monday, 15-Sep-2008 09:25:57