Hurricane Rita: One Year Later 

FEMA Recovery Programs Help More Than 365,000 Louisiana Households & Businesses

Release Date: September 18, 2006
Release Number: 1603-551

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LAKE CHARLES, La. -- They weren't world renowned places, they were small beach communities facing the Gulf of Mexico and surrounded by precious marshes and wetlands. Holly Beach, Cameron, Creole, Grand Chenier, Pecan Island and Johnson Bayou were just a few of the communities devastated by Hurricane Rita on September 24 a year ago. 

"Many of our homes were erased right off the map last fall," said David Phillips, director of FEMA's Area Field Office in Lake Charles, La. "In the past twelve months, we have had tremendous success putting families into temporary housing, helping communities recover, and bracing for the future."

At one point while in the Gulf, Hurricane Rita became the fourth-strongest Atlantic hurricane on record as a Category 5, slowing to a Category 3 when it reached landfall near Johnson Bayou and causing havoc along the entire Louisiana coast and upward into Calcasieu and Beauregard parishes, as well as coastal counties in Texas. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported Rita's storm surge reached 15 feet at the Cameron Parish shoreline and up to 12 feet at the Vermilion Parish coastline and at St. Mary Parish near Louisa.

A year later, thousands of families and dozens of communities affected by Hurricane Rita have found much-needed help in the programs of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). More than 365,000 Louisiana households and businesses registered with FEMA for help as a result of Hurricane Rita. More than 110,000 registered in Calcasieu Parish and nearly 18,000 in Vermilion Parish. Registrants signed up in all 64 parishes and in other states.

The storm surge of Rita devastated entire communities in coastal areas of southwestern Louisiana as well as southeastern Louisiana parishes that had recently been impacted by Hurricane Katrina. 

In the ensuing year, FEMA provided $528 million in aid to Hurricane Rita's displaced families:

To meet disaster-related emergency needs, FEMA provided expedited assistance to more than 107,000 individuals and families. This assistance was followed by rental assistance payments to approximately 27,000 households, and temporary use of FEMA travel trailers and mobile homes to more than 11,000 families. More than 264,000 housing inspections have been completed by FEMA to examine damages caused by Hurricane Rita in Louisiana.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved:

Community Disaster Loans (CDLs) are another important funding source for local governments. CDLs totaling more than $7.5 million have been approved for several local government agencies that incurred a significant loss in revenue because of the disaster. These low-interest loans enable local governments to perform essential services such as law enforcement and fire services.

The Public Assistance program of FEMA provides funding and expertise to help communities and certain nonprofit organizations clear storm debris and restore their damaged facilities to pre-hurricane condition. More than $355 million has been obligated for projects ranging from public building and classroom repairs in Vermilion Parish to debris removal and emergency protective measures in Calcasieu Parish. Nearly 98 percent of the estimated 8.7 million cubic yards of storm debris has been removed.

Many of the damaged homes and businesses were covered by flood insurance policies underwritten by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) administered by FEMA. In Louisiana last summer, more than 385,000 policies were in force. More than 7,300 claims have been paid to owners of homes and businesses as a result of flood damages caused by Hurricane Rita. The value of NFIP claims paid in Louisiana exceeds $371 million for damages caused by Hurricane Rita. Today, more than 468,000 flood insurance policies are in effect in Louisiana.

FEMA's David Phillips says much of the heavy lifting has been completed in the many Louisiana parishes smacked by Hurricane Rita. The FEMA staff is working with partners in federal, state and local agencies, plus a network of volunteer organizations, to guide the recovery of Southwest Louisiana.

"Shrimp boats are back on the waterways, sports fishermen are out in large numbers and most folks are back at work," said Phillips. "Homes are replacing trailers, kids are back in school eating hot meals for breakfast and lunch, and Friday night football is the main topic of conversation again. And throughout it all, from day one, American flags have flown everywhere, a symbol of the fiercely patriotic nature of the people from Southwest Louisiana."

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, 18-Sep-2006 15:16:09