FEMA Remains Committed To Recovery In Louisiana
Release Date: April 13, 2006
Release Number: 1603-440
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- Although Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the state of Louisiana, making landfall as Category 3 storms, many strides have been made by its residents who are on the “road to recovery.” The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) remains committed to long-term hurricane recovery efforts in partnership with the State of Louisiana.
Two of the most intense hurricanes ever recorded during the Atlantic Hurricane Season, both Katrina and Rita intensified to Category 5 storms while in the Gulf Coast, before making landfall. While Katrina made landfall on Aug. 29, Rita followed almost one month later on Sept. 24. The following disaster recovery information recounts the significant progress that has been made through FEMA’s plethora of disaster assistance programs.
$12.6 billion
To date, more than $12.6 billion has been paid out under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to policyholders in Louisiana. On average, only 49 percent of those eligible to buy flood insurance nation-wide do so; in the South, 61 percent of the eligible homeowners had purchased the needed insurance. These dollars represent claims covered by the premium payments collected for the NFIP policies paid annually to protect assets in the event of a flooding event. More than 385,000 Louisianans currently hold these policies, with an average coverage of $139,000.
$4.7 billion
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved 10,872 disaster assistance loans for business owners, totaling $1.04 billion and 60,885 loans to renters and homeowners, totaling more than $4.7 billion.
$ 3.5 billion
FEMA has issued 1,608,532 housing assistance checks, totaling more than $3.5 billion, to Louisiana victims, in the form of rental assistance and home repair reimbursement grants. This assistance provides funds to those residents whose homes have been damaged by the disasters for a safe place to live.
$ 2.1 billion
More than $2.1 billion in federal dollars has already been allocated for Public Assistance (PA) projects. FEMA awards grants to assist state and local governments and certain private non-profit entities with their response to and recovery from the disaster. The program provides assistance for debris removal, implementation of emergency protective measures, and the restoration of infrastructure to pre-disaster conditions; replacement of school buildings and the restoration of utilities and other essential public services.
$ 1.3 billion
Under the Other Needs Assistance Program, more than $1.3 billion has been distributed to 300,031 Louisiana victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This grant program provides assistance for serious, disaster-related needs to impacted individuals and provides financial assistance to individuals and households who have other disaster-related necessary expenses, such as: medical, dental, funeral, personal property, transportation replacement costs, and moving or storage expenses, or serious needs that do not qualify for a low interest loan from SBA.
$ 700 million
FEMA has approved more than $700 million in Community Disaster Loans (CDL) to help keep essential services online in communities hardest hit by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. CDLs provide operational funding to help local governments, which have incurred a significant loss in revenue due to the disaster, perform essential services such as law enforcement and fire services.
$185 million
FEMA has approved nearly $185 million in disaster unemployment assistance for 108,149 eligible victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita who signed up during the application period. On March 6, President Bush extended these benefits an additional 13 weeks—until June 4 for Hurricane Katrina and June 24 for Hurricane Rita—to Louisiana residents and displaced evacuees who are unemployed because of the hurricanes. Disaster Unemployment Assistance is traditionally available for a period of up to 26 weeks.
38.8 million
In addition to household debris removal from rights of way, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), along with private contractors working for some Louisiana Parishes, have removed more than 38.8 million cubic yards of debris (one cubic yard is equivalent to one household dishwasher) under a FEMA-funded mission assignment.
1.4 million
FEMA has completed more than 1.4 million housing inspections in Louisiana. Inspectors check for structural soundness to assure safe occupancy. The inspector will record all disaster-related damages to the home. A survey of damaged personal property, clothing and vehicles is also conducted.
776,065
More than 776,065 Louisiana residents have been served by FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Centers. Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are one-stop information centers where victims can learn more about different types of state and federal disaster assistance.
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: Friday, 14-Apr-2006 11:09:52