Nearly $690 Million in Assistance Helping More Than 330,000 Families Displaced by Katrina
Effort to cut red tape producing results for families in need
Release Date: September 10, 2005
Release Number: HQ-05-236
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Through the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the federal government has launched an unprecedented relief effort to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. As of September 10:
- Nearly $690 million in federal aid has been distributed.
- More than 330,000 households today have a $2,000 FEMA grant either already in hand or have one on the way.
- Families temporarily residing in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are receiving assistance
Through FEMA, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has dramatically streamlined its procedures to urgently expedite these payments of $2,000 per household to help pay for the emergency needs of food, shelter, clothing, personal necessities and medical needs.
"We are committed to cutting red tape and getting help to people who need it," said U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "As a result, we are getting real assistance in record time to more than 330,000 families who are hurting and, in many cases, far from home."
Roughly every four hours, FEMA is sending registrations taken in to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and Treasury processes disbursements four times daily. These funds have been distributed in three ways:
- Electronic funds transfer: More than $350 million has been distributed through electronic funds transfer - a direct deposit into an individual or family bank account.
- U.S. Treasury checks: More than $315 million has been distributed through Treasury checks. The U.S. Postal Service is urgently dispatching these checks to hurricane victims at their temporary locations throughout the nation. Banks have been working collaboratively with the government to ensure that these checks can be cashed by evacuees.
- Debit card pilot program: Through an innovative pilot program developed in less than a week, more than $17 million reached individuals and families in need in large shelters in Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas. These deliveries to shelter residents are scheduled to be completed by the end of today.
These $2,000 expedited payments are just an initial emergency payment drawn down by those eligible for FEMA assistance. Individuals calling in or going online need only register once, as this triggers both the expedited assistance and any further assistance for which they are eligible. The maximum assistance per household through FEMA is $26,200.
Individuals can apply via FEMA's online registration tool at www.fema.gov or by calling toll-free, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) (TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the hearing or speech impaired). FEMA personnel also are setting up disaster recovery centers throughout the most damaged areas of the Gulf Coast to provide person-to-person assistance.
FEMA has thousands of phone operators taking registrations on its 24-hour phone bank. Callers may register faster by calling during the off hours of 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Those registering should be ready, if able, to provide their Social Security number, insurance information, financial information, contact information and their direct deposit information. Registration will remain open for many months to ensure that all citizens eligible for assistance have had the opportunity to apply.
As of Saturday, September 10:
Table 1: FEMA Financial Assistance Activity
| State | Households Funded | Assistance Released ($million) |
| LA | 267,970 | $551,476,584 |
| MS | 51,688 | $107,946,067 |
| AL | 12,058 | $28,962,542 |
| Total | 331,716 | $688,385,193 |
Data as of: 9/10 - 12:01 pm
Table 2: FEMA Assistance Method of Payment
| Type of Payment | Amount Released |
| Direct Deposit | $352,919,549 |
| Check | $317,933,644 |
| Debit Card | $17,532,000 |
| Total | $688,385,193 |
Last Modified: Friday, 14-Oct-2005 09:07:48