Hospitals Throughout The State Will Benefit From Latest Funds Released By FEMA
More than $8 million in funds to benefit area hospitals
Release Date: September 27, 2006
Release Number: 1607-559
» More Information on Louisiana Hurricane Rita
LAKE CHARLES, La. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that another $8.2 million in funds has been set aside to help hospitals affected by Hurricane Rita recover from the disaster.
Approximately $675,000 has been set aside for the Lake Charles Hospital, which is owned by the Southwest Louisiana Hospital Association, for repairs that include buildings, labs, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems across the facility.
In Acadia Parish, nearly $33,000 has been set aside for the American Legion Hospital, money that will go towards replacement of carpet, floors, windows and fencing for its facilities in Crowley and Rayne. FEMA has already provided funds for emergency generators and lab equipment that the hospital used immediately after Hurricane Rita struck.
In addition to these and others, FEMA set aside $6.2 million for the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH). The money will pay for reimbursing extra personnel and for supplies used throughout the state during the evacuation of both patients and hospital personnel in the months after the disaster.
Under the Public Assistance program, FEMA money is distributed to the state in the form of grants. Once the applicant is determined to be eligible, the state is responsible for distributing the money.
FEMA's Public Assistance Program is one way federal assistance gets to the state and local governments and to certain private nonprofit organizations. These funds allow them to respond to disasters, to recover from their impact and to mitigate impact from future disasters. While this assistance is aimed at governments and organizations, the final goal is to help a community and all its citizens recover from devastating natural disasters.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Monday, 08-Jan-2007 13:22:45