FEMA Aid To Individuals Tops $106 Million; Total Alabama Assistance Nears $400 Million
Release Date: October 20, 2005
Release Number: 1605-074
» More Information on Alabama Hurricane Katrina
MONTGOMERY, Al. -- In the seven weeks since Hurricane Katrina ripped through southern Alabama, individuals and families, businesses, state and local governments and agencies have received nearly $400 million in response and recovery funding according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
A snapshot of statewide assistance shows:
- Approved Housing Assistance (HA) grants total $76.7 million for 33,415 storm victims. Of that amount, rental assistance totals $55.3 million for 30,857 needing temporary accommodations;
- Approved Other Needs Assistance (ONA) totals $30.1 million in grants for 26,527 seeking aid for essential needs not covered by insurance or other aid programs;
- The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved $6.1 million in loans to 169 homeowners and renters and $455,000 to 14 businesses;
- Public Assistance (PA) reimbursement to pay for infrastructure costs, such as debris removal and emergency protective measures reached $19.6 million. PA has reviewed 430 project worksheets and has obligated funds for 403 projects, or 93 percent of requests;
- Disaster Unemployment Assistance has approved 482 claims and has disbursed $181,200; and
- FEMA mission assignments that provide funds for a large proportion of response activities including ice, water and meals-ready-to-eat now totals $261.9 million in obligated funds. This brings the total of Alabama disaster assistance to date to $394.4 million.
Other key facts:
- To date, 111,169 Alabama residents registered with FEMA for assistance by calling either the toll-free number 800-621-FEMA (3362), the TTY number for the hearing- or speech-impaired, 800-462-7585 or by going online at www.fema.gov.
- Nearly 30 percent or 31,021 seeking state/FEMA aid came to Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs). Currently there are 10 DRCs providing outreach services to more than 550 visitors a day;
- FEMA has registered 22,611 evacuees from neighboring states currently using Alabama addresses. Nearly 5,700 school children (K-12) from evacuated households are now enrolled in state schools;
- More than 5,400 people once residing in shelters are in interim housing. Just 3 shelters remain open, housing 23 individuals—down from a high of 5,421 persons in 36 shelters;
- Statewide, approximately 5,150 individuals displaced by Hurricane Katrina are residing in various forms of interim housing. FEMA reports more than 1,790 occupied travel trailer units in all locations statewide;
- There are 68 Community Relations specialists in the field working directly with evacuees in shelters, hotels and interim housing facilities;
- Out of 87,633 inspections for housing damage 85,530, or 98 percent, are completed; and
- More than 2.6million cubic yards of storm-caused debris have been collected statewide out of a total statewide estimate of 4 million cubic yards.
Here is the county-by-county breakdown:
| County | Applications | IHP Amount | HA Amount | ON Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwin | 7,353 | $6,404,259 | $5,047,656 | $1,345,602 |
| Choctaw | 2,646 | $1,787,818 | $1,273,352 | $514,465 |
| Clarke | 2,524 | $2,717,734 | $2,426,520 | $291,213 |
| Greene | 1,492 | $840,465 | $765,342 | $75,123 |
| Hale | 669 | $468,107 | $421,001 | $47,105 |
| Marengo | 709 | $233,367 | $186,044 | $47,323 |
| Mobile | 86,590 | $88,811,910 | $62,463,431 | $26,348,479 |
| Pickens | 1,351 | $693,811 | $610,401 | $83,409 |
| Sumter | 1,908 | $1,131,205 | $981,834 | $149,370 |
| Tuscaloosa | 664 | $290,452 |
$244,050 | $46,402 |
| Washington | 3,143 | $2,960,603 | $2,126,479 | $834,123 |
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works 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: Friday, 21-Oct-2005 07:37:22