Hurricane Katrina Recovery Update: Week 45
Release Date: July 14, 2006
Release Number: 1604-406
» More Information on Mississippi Hurricane Katrina
BILOXI, Miss. -- In the first 10 days since opening, the new Mississippi Maintenance/Applicant Support call center has taken more than 7,000 calls.
The center was opened by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist state residents with mobile home and travel trailer maintenance as well as a wide range of applicant issues.
The call center number is 1-866-877-6075 and is exclusively for applicants residing in Mississippi. Staff, on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week, is trained to help applicants or direct them to those who can.
This is just one example of the many ways FEMA continues to work closely with applicants, local and state organizations, and voluntary agencies to assist in the Mississippi recovery process. Record amounts of funds are being approved and disbursed by the agency; billions of dollars in disaster assistance are going to businesses, individuals and communities throughout the devastated areas.
Federal assistance in Mississippi since Hurricane Katrina tops $8.8 billion and has been distributed through the following programs:
$1.2 billion to individuals and families:
-
274,262 individuals and families received housing assistance totaling nearly $841 million;
-
132,719 Mississippi Katrina survivors received $402 million in other needs assistance.
$791 million was approved for the following Public Assistance (not including debris removal):
-
$285 million for emergency protective measures;
-
$238 million to repair public facilities;
-
$198 million to restore public utilities;
-
$45 million to restore public recreational facilities such as state parks;
-
$24 million to repair roads and bridges; and
-
$1.3 million to repair water control devices such as reservoirs and irrigation channels.
About $1.3 billion has been approved for debris removal:
-
Nearly 45 million cubic yards of debris has been removed from public and private property;
-
Debris removal is 95.6 percent complete.
Other assistance:
-
More than $2.4 billion was paid by FEMA through its National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to more than 16,881 policy holders.
-
Nearly $3.2 billion was paid by FEMA to other federal agencies to complete specific tasks or mission assignments during response and recovery such as emergency medical assistance and debris removal.
-
More than 101,000 people are housed temporarily in 37,582 FEMA-provided travel trailers and mobile homes, including 3,289 units compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
In addition, $2.5 billion in U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans have been approved for Mississippians:
-
$2 billion in loans to 30,486 homeowners and renters;
-
$481.8 million to 4,150 businesses;
-
$16.9 million to 314 small business owners for working capital.
Reminder: Mississippians who applied for disaster assistance can update their contact or personal information or inquire about the status of their applications two easy ways: call the toll-free FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585 or visit www.fema.gov.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Friday, 14-Jul-2006 15:23:37