FEMA Extends Short-Term Lodging Program In Louisiana
Release Date: November 21, 2005
Release Number: 1603-167
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (LOHSEP) have announced an extension of the funding for FEMA’s short-term lodging program to Dec. 15. The extension, requested by the State of Louisiana, was granted by FEMA to provide an additional two weeks for evacuees staying in Louisiana hotels to find alternative housing in a state where housing stock has been severely diminished by two hurricanes.
In making today’s announcement, Federal Coordinating Officer Scott Wells said, “ We recognize the challenges of finding alternative housing in Louisiana and are providing this two-week extension to give evacuees additional time to find that housing.”
The two-week extension provision was announced by FEMA last week and made available to the states of Louisiana and Mississippi, if needed, in transitioning evacuees currently staying in hotels and motels to longer-term housing. This provision applies only to these two designated states where housing stock was destroyed.
“Unfortunately, families impacted by Hurricane Katrina must realize that housing in New Orleans will not return to its pre-storm state for quite some time and it is time for displaced families to locate suitable housing solutions in other locations, including those out of state,” said Wells. “FEMA and its state and local partners offer several programs to assist in relocation and it is our number one goal to find long-term housing for Louisiana’s displaced population.”
“This extension will allow us the opportunity to assist Louisiana residents make an orderly progression toward more permanent housing,” said Colonel Jeff Smith, state coordinating officer.
Evacuees who need assistance in finding alternative housing can call FEMA’s housing referral service at 1-800-762-8740 (TTY 1-800-462-7585). The service is operational daily from 7 am to 8 pm CST and will help evacuees in finding housing across the country.
Residents displaced by the hurricanes have several options for long-term housing:
- For travel trailers or mobile homes, call the FEMA Teleregistration/Helpline (24 hours a day)
1-800-621-FEMA (3362) (TTY 1-800-462-7585)
- For apartments, call FEMA’s housing locator service (7 a.m. – 8 p.m. CST)
1-800-762-8740 (TTY 1-800-462-7585)
- For those who were in housing subsidized by one of the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs or were homeless before the storm call:
Katrina Disaster Housing Assistance Program 1-866-373-9509, TTY 1-800-877-8339
General inquiries 1-800-955-2232, TTY is 1-800-877-8339
FEMA urges all hurricane evacuees to call the FEMA Helpline (1-800-621-FEMA or TTY 1-800-462-7585) or visit a nearby Disaster Recovery Center to learn more about alternative housing options and referral services.
FEMA is using additional resources to assist evacuees move from short-term lodging to longer-term housing, reaching out with public service announcements through local media and flyers distributed under the doors at hotels and motels. Representatives from the state, voluntary organizations and FEMA are visiting hotels and motels to discuss future housing options.
Nearly three months after Hurricane Katrina and two months after Hurricane Rita, hurricane evacuees occupy more than 52,000 hotel rooms across the country; approximately 9,400 are in Louisiana.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 22-Nov-2005 09:28:58