By The Numbers: FEMA Recovery Update in Louisiana
Release Date: January 4, 2006
Release Number: 1603-259
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- Here is an update on what federal and state agencies have done in the three months since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit Louisiana. These numbers, except where noted, are exclusive to Louisiana.
| 1 | With an estimated 90,000 square miles impacted and 400,000 individuals displaced by Hurricane Katrina, the storm is the single largest natural disaster in FEMA's 26-year history. |
| 33 | Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Louisiana. DRCs are one-stop information centers where victims can learn more about different types of state and federal disaster assistance, including loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for homeowners, renters and business owners. |
| 45 | States and the District of Columbia received Presidential emergency declarations after Hurricane Katrina. This total is the most declarations made for a single disaster in FEMA history. |
| 759 | To date, 759 vessels have been removed by the U.S. Coast Guard. |
| 1,576 | FEMA has leased 1,576 units in cruise ships. |
| 2,108 | The SBA has approved 2,108 businesses for disaster assistance loans. Total: $160.7 million. |
| 2,967 | There are 2,967 federal housing units occupied. This consists of HUD- and USDA-approved housing. |
| 14,471 | The SBA has approved 14,471 loans to homeowners and renters. Total: $993.7 million. |
| 16,579 | For homeowners, renters and business owners, the SBA has approved a total of 16,579 disaster loans, totaling more than $1.2 billion in Louisiana. |
| 23,881 | Approximately 23,881 travel trailers and manufactured housing units are temporary homes for hurricane victims. Louisiana has a significant number of such housing among impacted Gulf Coast states. In all, about 62,830 units are temporary homes for Katrina victims - nearly triple the number of units used after all of last year's Florida hurricanes and far outstripping any housing mission in FEMA's history. |
| 27,000 | LA Swift, the free emergency bus system between Baton Rouge and New Orleans for displaced residents, has completed more than 27,000 round trips. |
| 49,000 | FEMA's Disaster Medical Teams worked around the clock at the New Orleans airport during the peak of patient movement operations, treating 49,000 patients. The team gave 65,000 immunizations and provided crisis counseling to 5,800 individuals, among other medical services. |
| 77,510 | There are thousands of damaged roofs that have been temporarily covered by FEMA's "Blue Roof" program, operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The program allows families to remain in their homes as they rebuild. |
| 107,648 | More than 107,000 claimants have been approved for disaster unemployment assistance. |
| 228,388 | In Louisiana, 228,388 checks were issued for Other Needs Assistance. The program provides assistance for serious disaster-related needs to impacted individuals. |
| 972,494 | FEMA has completed 948,936 housing inspections. The inspection process includes a complete overview for structural damage. The inspector will look at the foundation, roof, flooring, drywall and ceiling. Heating, cooling, electrical and plumbing systems are also reviewed. The inspector will record all disaster-related damages, and a survey of damaged personal property, clothing and vehicles may also be conducted. |
| 1.4 Million | FEMA has issued 1.4 million housing assistance checks, totaling: $3.1 billion. |
| 25.3 Million | The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has removed 25.3 million cubic yards of debris. FEMA has reimbursed the state at 100 percent for this expense and will continue to do so through June 30. |
| 109 Million | FEMA has obligated $109 million in unemployment assistance for eligible hurricane victims in Louisiana who signed up during the application period. |
| 325 Million | FEMA has paid or reimbursed more than $325 million for hotel and motel rooms for those without housing. |
| 539 Million | FEMA has approved $539 million in Community Disaster Loans in Louisiana to help keep essential services online in the hardest hit communities, including a $120 million loan to the City of New Orleans. |
| 901 Million | Nearly $901 million has been approved to individuals for Other Needs Assistance. |
| 1 Billion | The SBA has approved more than $1 billion in disaster assistance loans to business owners, homeowners and renters in Louisiana. |
| 1.1 Billion | Nearly $1.1 billion in federal dollars has been allocated for Public Assistance projects, such as debris removal and emergency services in Louisiana, equaling the amount allocated for PA grants in Florida over the eight months following the 2004 Hurricane Season. |
| 3.1 Billion | FEMA has paid out $3.1 billion in housing assistance. |
| 4 Billion | FEMA has provided more than $4 billion directly to Katrina victims for financial and housing assistance through the Individuals and Households Assistance Program (IHP). This is more than the $1.2 billion used for IHP after last year's Florida hurricanes. This amount is the most ever provided to victims by FEMA for any single natural disaster, nearly doubling the combined total of IHP dollars for the Northridge Earthquake in 1994 and 1992's Hurricane Andrew. |
| 5.6 Billion | More than $5.6 billion has been obligated in Public Assistance grants for repairs of roads, bridges, water control facilities, parks and other local properties. |
| 11 Billion | FEMA projects an $11 billion payout in housing assistance. This includes payments for rental, lodging, repairs, replacement and other needs. |
| 23 Billion | FEMA projects $23 billion in payments under the National Flood Insurance Program to policyholders. To date, nearly $9 billion has been paid out in Louisiana. |
Last Modified: Thursday, 05-Jan-2006 09:28:01