Gulf Coast Recovery 3 Years Later 

Release Date: August 26, 2008
Release Number: 1603-804

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NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Much has been accomplished in the effort to rebuild the Gulf Coast over the last 36 months and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Gulf Coast Recovery Office (GCRO) remains committed to continue helping families recover and communities rebuild.

"FEMA and our state and local partners have been aggressive in our commitment to rebuild what Hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed. Working together we have demonstrated that 'progress through partnership' is necessary in the recovery effort," said Jim Stark, FEMA's Acting Associate Deputy Administrator for Gulf Coast Recovery.  "The $50 billion is a significant accomplishment for FEMA and our partners and demonstrates FEMA's continued promise to the citizens of the Gulf Coast."

FEMA's Gulf Coast Recovery Office coordinates recovery and mitigation programs in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas as these states continue recovering from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Significant funding provided by FEMA has stimulated rebuilding along the Gulf Coast, but there is still more work to be done. 

More than $11 billion in Public Assistance grants have been provided to communities along the Gulf Coast to continue rebuilding.  State and local governments in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas are using the $11 billion for a variety of projects ranging from repair and replacement of hurricane-damaged schools, roads, utilities and other public infrastructure to removal of storm debris.  Listed below is the Public Assistance grant monies provided by FEMA to each state.

Alabama

Louisiana

Mississippi

Texas

In response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, FEMA conducted the largest temporary housing operation in the history of the country, providing temporary housing units to more than 143,000 families across the   Gulf Coast.  FEMA has moved over 127,000 households out of temporary housing units as residents move into long-term housing solutions. FEMA currently has 15,094 households remaining in FEMA-provided temporary housing units across the Gulf Coast. 88% of these households are living in temporary housing units located on private sites. These households are, for the most part, making repairs so they can return to their pre-disaster dwelling. FEMA has also taken steps to increase the amount of available rental units and reduce the other barriers that may slow the process for a household to relocate from the temporary housing unit to alternate housing. This year, FEMA established Joint Federal/State Housing Task Forces with our partners in Louisiana and Mississippi to identify and address barriers to the successful relocation of occupants.

FEMA also manages the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to create safer communities by reducing the loss of life and property, enable individuals to recover more rapidly from floods and other disasters, and lessen the financial impact of disasters on the Nation. In Louisiana, $1.47 billion is available for HMGP funding. Of the total funding available, $258.2 million has been paid to the state for 161 approved projects to date. In Mississippi, $413 million is available for HMGP funding and $77 million has been paid to the state for 121 approved projects. Total Federal share of Hazard Mitigation Grant funding currently paid to Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas is over $467 million. 

FEMA's Gulf Coast Recovery Office (GCRO) has launched the www.FEMArecovery.gov website in order to provide information of the disaster assistance made available by FEMA for the recovery and rebuilding of the Gulf Coast. The purpose of the FEMA Recovery Transparency Website is to present the public with clear and consistent information about federal funding provided to assist in the rebuilding of public infrastructure throughout the state. GCRO has developed this website to demonstrate FEMA's commitment to enhanced transparency of information and assistance provided throughout the Gulf Coast region.

For more information about FEMA's Gulf Coast recovery efforts, please visit www.fema.gov/gulfcoastrecovery

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: Tuesday, 26-Aug-2008 15:23:02