FEMA Remains Committed to Recovery for Those Affected by Hurricane Rita
Release Date: April 21, 2006
Release Number: 1603-445
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LAKE CHARLES, La. -- Although the Louisiana parishes of Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, De Soto, Evangeline, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Natchitoches, Rapides, Sabine, St. Landry, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Vermilion, and Vernon were devastated by Hurricane Rita, many strides have been made by those 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.
The following is an update of federal and state agency accomplishments in the nearly seven months since Hurricane Rita hit:
- To date, more than $526 million has been paid under the National Flood Insurance Program to policyholders in Louisiana. More than 396,000 Louisianans currently hold these policies, with an average coverage of $139,000.
- FEMA has issued 160,992 housing assistance checks, totaling nearly $403.5 million. This funding, in the form of rental assistance and home repair reimbursement grants, assures that those whose homes have been damaged by disaster have a safe place to live.
- More than $199.2 million has already been allocated for 1,889 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 work including debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the restoration of infrastructure to pre-disaster conditions.
- Under the Other Needs Assistance Program, more than $94 million has been distributed to 52,902 Hurricane Rita applicants. This grant program provides assistance for serious, disaster-related needs that do not qualify for a low-interest loan from SBA.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved 15,592 loans to renters and homeowners, totaling more than $76 million and 659 disaster assistance loans for business owners, totaling $49.5 million.
- FEMA has approved more than $8.8 million in Community Disaster Loans to help keep essential services online in communities hardest hit by Hurricane Rita.
- More than $8.8 million in Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) has been approved for 9,881 eligible victims of Hurricane Rita who signed up during the application period. On March 6, President Bush signed a bill extending these benefits to June 24 (for Hurricane Rita).
- More than 273,752 residents have sought information at Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) throughout the affected areas. Presently, one DRC is staffed by representatives of the SBA, crisis counselors, disaster mitigation specialists and other federal, state and voluntary agency personnel.
- FEMA has completed more than one million housing inspections. Inspectors record all disaster-related structural damages to homes, as well as document damages to personal property.
- At present, 16,008 travel trailers and mobile homes are temporary homes for hurricane victims. This number represents temporary housing provided to applicants while they are working on permanent housing solutions.
- 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, has cleared debris from 1,980 residential properties impacted by Rita under a FEMA-funded mission assignment. The USACE coordinated work in cases where impacted governments were in need of federal assistance in arranging for the work to be done
- As a result of Hurricane Rita, FEMA has employed 106 residents of the affected parishes. Serving in various roles, these employees, who may also have been victims of Hurricane Rita, have contributed a unique perspective to the recovery effort. Additionally, this has given FEMA the opportunity to contribute to the economy of this devastated region.
- To date, 57 vessels have been removed by the U.S. Coast Guard, under a FEMA-funded mission assignment. These wrecked vessels, which have been removed and salvaged, will no longer pose a health or safety threat from environmental pollution or impaired navigation.
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, 21-Apr-2006 15:44:29