President Declares Major Disaster For Louisiana
Release Date: November 2, 2006
Release Number: HQ-06-155
» More Information on Louisiana Severe Storms and Flooding
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for the state of Louisiana to help people and communities recover from the effects of severe storms and flooding beginning on October 16, 2006, and continuing.
FEMA Director David Paulison said the assistance was authorized under a major disaster declaration issued for the state by President Bush. The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the parishes of Caldwell, Franklin, Grant, LaSalle, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Richland, Sabine, Vernon and Winn.
The assistance, to be coordinated by FEMA, can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also will be available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.
Federal funding also is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and flooding in the parishes of Beauregard, Caldwell, Catahoula, Franklin, Grant, LaSalle, Madison, Morehouse, Richland, Sabine, Vernon and Winn.
In addition, federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the parishes of Beauregard, Calcasieu, Caldwell, Catahoula, Franklin, Grant, Jefferson, LaSalle, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Richland, Sabine, Tensas, Vernon, and Winn.
Paulison named Lee Champagne as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Champagne said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are complete.
The Agency said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at http://www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA works closely with state and local emergency managers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters and other first responders. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Friday, 03-Nov-2006 14:02:48