President Bush Increases Relief Funds to Include Rita Victims
Release Date: October 27, 2005
Release Number: 1603-120
» More Information on Louisiana Hurricane Katrina
» More Information on Louisiana Hurricane Rita
BATON ROUGE, La. -- President George W. Bush has issued an amendment for disaster relief response and rebuilding to include damages caused by Hurricane Rita, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today.
Reimbursing state and local agencies 100 percent for Category A (debris) and B (emergency protective measures) work will be extended an additional 30 days, according to an amendment to the initial disaster declaration for Hurricane Rita by President Bush. This extension means emergency disaster assistance such as debris removal and emergency protective measures will continue at 100 percent reimbursement to the State of Louisiana and local governments. The amendment allows the reimbursement to continue through midnight on Nov. 26, 2005.
Beginning Nov. 27, 2005, all remaining emergency work will then be reimbursed 90 percent by the federal government, with the remaining ten percent paid by the state and/or local agencies.
Specific tasks within mission assignments that have been assigned by midnight Nov. 26, 2005 will also be reimbursed 100 percent through the duration of the project. Mission assignments are given to other federal agencies to provide vital needs. These needs may include rescue missions, food disbursement, ice delivery, debris removal, or other critical life and safety missions. The process of debris removal may be tasked to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers only if the local government wishes to use their services.
Also, the federal share of costs for permanent work for Categories C through G is being increased retroactively to 90 percent instead of 75 percent. The remaining ten percent will be paid by the state and/or local agencies. Categories C-G includes:
Road & bridges (Cat. C)
Water control facilities (Cat. D)
Buildings & equipment (Cat. E)
Utilities (Cat. F)
Parks & recreational areas (Cat. G)
Last Modified: Thursday, 27-Oct-2005 20:00:14