Hurricane Katrina Update
Release Date: September 19, 2005
Release Number: 1604-025
» More Information on Mississippi Hurricane Katrina
JACKSON, Miss. -- Disaster victims are urged to register with FEMA by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY: 1-800-462-7585 for the speech or hearing impaired. Registrations can also be made online at www.fema.gov.
More than 332,202 Mississippi disaster victims have registered with FEMA and more than $264,409,794.00 in payments have been approved. As of 3 p.m. yesterday, a total of 25,421 disaster victims had been to the seven open Disaster Recovery Centers in Biloxi, Gulfport, Moss Point, Ocean Springs, Pascagoula, Poplarville and Waveland.
As of Friday, 1,549 travel trailers and mobile homes had been staged with families occupying 519 of them.
U.S. Small Business Administration facts:
- 218,114 home applications issued
- 35,756 business applications issued
The following school systems will be opening in the coming weeks:
- Today: Jefferson Davis County Schools, Pearl River County Schools, Perry County Schools, Poplarville Schools, and Stone County Schools.
- 9/23: Forrest County AHS.
- 9/26: Lamar County Schools, Lumberton Schools, Moss Point Schools, and Ocean Springs Schools.
- 9/30: Hancock County Schools.
- 10/3: Biloxi Schools, Jackson County Schools, Long Beach Schools, and Pass Christian Schools.
The fatality count stands at 219.
Electrical Power Associations of Mississippi report 16,224 meters without power.
More than 95 percent of the water systems in Mississippi are now operable. Statewide, 585 boil water notices were initially issued, and now only 230 boil water notices are still in effect. Eighty-five percent of wastewater plants on the Gulf Coast are now operable.
In Mississippi there are 103 American Red Cross shelters open with 5,785 evacuees.
The Forestry Commission is advising the public not to burn debris because of the increased risk of wildfires.
FEMA and MEMA are working with local and voluntary agency officials in Mississippi and engaging the private sector to identify and transport housing resources. Persons needing housing must register with FEMA by calling, toll-free 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) TTY 1-800-462-7585. Applicants will be contacted by FEMA when housing is available.
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: Thursday, 13-Oct-2005 07:46:23