FEMA and State Committed To Recovery in Louisiana
Release Date: June 1, 2006
Release Number: 1603-487
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NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Many strides have been made in the recovery process since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated Louisiana last year. 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 $14.7 billion has been paid out under the National Flood Insurance Program to policyholders in Louisiana . More than 420,000 Louisianans currently hold these policies, with average coverage at $152,000 .
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved more than 12,000 disaster assistance loans to business owners totaling $1.03 billion ; and 74,851 loans to renters and homeowners totaling more than $6.10 billion.
- FEMA has issued 1.64 million housing assistance checks totaling more than $3.5 billion to Louisiana victims, in the form of rental assistance and home repair or replacement grants.
- More than $2.4 billion in federal dollars has 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 FEMA's Other Needs Assistance Program , more than $1.4 billion has been distributed to 324,522 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 operating in communities hardest hit by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
- More than $289 million in disaster unemployment assistance has been approved for 173,173 eligible victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita who signed up during the application period.
- 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 40 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 record all disaster-related structural damages to homes, as well as document damages to personal property.
- More than 777,000 Louisiana residents have sought information at Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) throughout the affected areas. Presently, seven DRCs 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. The seven DRCs include the following parishes; St. Tammany, Orleans , St. Bernard, Calcasieu, Jefferson and Plaquemines.
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: Thursday, 01-Jun-2006 15:27:25