Federal-State Aid Tops $181 Million 

Release Date: December 13, 2002
Release Number: 1435-148

» More Information on Louisiana Tropical Storm Isidore

Baton Rouge, LA -- More than $181.7 million in federal-state grants and loans flowed into the 39 parishes declared for the twin disasters, Tropical Storm Isidore and Hurricane Lili, since the presidential declarations Sept. 27 and Oct. 3.

Also a fund in excess of $20 million will be used by the state for their top priority, elevating/acquiring individual primary residences with substantial and repetitive damage. The amount of this fund is determined by a percentage of the total disaster aid and is administered by the state with the assistance of remaining Federal Emergency Agency (FEMA) mitigation grant program specialists.

Carlos Mitchell, federal coordinating officer, urged any residents with uninsured disaster-related losses to register for disaster assistance before the 60-day application period and extension expires on Saturday, Dec. 14.

"Our toll-free registration line, 800-621-FEMA, will close at 6 p.m. (CST) on Saturday," Mitchell said. Speech or hearing-impaired residents should call (TTY/TDD) 800-462-7585.

Residents in declared parishes may apply for FEMA and state recovery assistance including grants for emergency disaster housing and essential repairs, individual and family grants for necessities not covered by insurance or other sources and low-interest loans from the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

State Coordinating Officer Art Jones said that more than $13 million in new assistance, including SBA loans, was approved and 7,703 new registrations were recorded in the latest reporting period, Dec. 1 through Dec. 12. Jones said a total of 170,703 residents have registered for a wide variety of recovery programs.

A snapshot of individual assistance recovery totals: (through COB, Dec. 12)

Last Modified: Thursday, 24-Jul-2003 14:49:52