Katrina Response Update for Mississippi
Release Date: October 8, 2005
Release Number: 1604-057
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JACKSON, Miss. -- Federal and state disaster officials provided the following summary of the ongoing assistance effort as of close of business Oct. 6:
- Temporary Housing – 3,915 travel trailers and mobile homes have been placed on private and commercial sites and are now occupied; 1,439 persons are on board a cruise ship being used as temporary shelter. FEMA estimates that more than 12,000 people are being housed to date in Mississippi through these two initiatives.
- FEMA funding is responsible for 23,195 temporary roofs installed, keeping an estimated 62,500 people to date in their own homes.
- $522.1 million in grants has been given to Mississippians affected by the disaster.
- $465.6 million in Housing Assistance grants for minimal home repairs, direct housing and temporary rental assistance not covered by insurance.
- $56.5 million in grants has been disbursed for necessary expenses and serious needs caused by the disaster. This may include medical, dental, funeral, personal property, transportation, moving and storage expenses.
- 478,414 individuals in the 47 disaster-declared Mississippi counties have called the toll-free 800-621-FEMA (3362) and the TTY 800-462-7585 for Individual Assistance. Another 104,251 disaster victims have visited one of the 21 currently open Disaster Recovery Centers.
- To date, low-interest disaster loans totaling $18.4 million have been approved for Mississippians by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
- 8.2 million cubic yards of debris have been removed, enough to fill more than 98 football fields stacked 50 feet high.
- 89,487 home inspections have been completed by FEMA inspectors. If an applicant is also being considered for an SBA loan, he or she will receive a second inspection by SBA.
- 910 FEMA and 1,437 personnel from other agencies are currently deployed throughout Mississippi working on recovery efforts.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages the federal response and recovery efforts following an incident of national significance. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities to reduce the risk of loss in future disasters, trains first responders, workers with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 11-Oct-2005 08:45:02