Six Months After Hurricane Rita
Release Date: March 23, 2006
Release Number: 1603-414
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- Six months after Hurricane Rita tore through southwestern Louisiana, leaving damaged homes and businesses in its wake, the state of Louisiana is pressing steadily forward on its road to recovery. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is working closely with the state to conduct recovery efforts, complete response activities and to fully prepare the state for future storms.
HISTORY OF HURRICANE RITA
Hurricane Rita was the seventeenth storm, ninth hurricane, fifth major hurricane and third category 5 hurricane to form during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. Hurricane Rita made landfall on Sept. 24, 2005 at 2:30 a.m. as a category 3 hurricane in southeastern Louisiana and caused extreme damage all along the southwestern Louisiana coastline, leaving communities and businesses destroyed. Rita brought sustained winds of over 100 miles per hour with the most rapid intensification on record for any tropical cyclone. The storm climbed from a category 2 to a category 5 hurricane in less than 24 hours. Hurricane Rita set a record as being the most intense hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, breaking a record set by Hurricane Katrina three weeks earlier.
IMPACT OF HURRICANE RITA
In its aftermath, Hurricane Rita caused an estimated $9.4 billion in damages making it the ninth costliest storm in U.S. history. The impact of Hurricane Rita caused extensive damage to its coastal parishes. Cameron Parish was heavily damaged; the communities of Holly Beach, Hackberry, Creole, Grand Chenier and Cameron were severely impacted. The Calcasieu Parish communities of Lake Charles, Sulphur, Westlake and Vinton suffered heavy damage. It is estimated that well over 2 million customers were without electrical services.
"The damage caused by this hurricane was extensive," said Scott Wells, federal coordinating officer for FEMA. "It is going to take a significant amount of time to get to a full recovery. Southwest Louisiana is fighting its way out of the void left by this powerful storm."
INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE
To date, FEMA has issued more than $403 million in housing assistance to Hurricane Rita victims. Housing assistance was provided to renters and homeowners whose primary residents were damaged or destroyed.
DRC'S IN SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA
Since Hurricane Rita made landfall, a total of eight Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC's) were setup in the southwestern region of Louisiana. Currently, one DRC remain open. DRC's serves as a one-stop information center to speak face-to-face with federal recovery specialists as well as state and local volunteer organizations who can provide additional assistance or help with unmet needs for disaster victims. In the beginning, DRC's were open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
In the wake of a hurricane, the U.S. Small Business Administration can provide loans to homeowners, renters, businesses, non-profits and small businesses. These loans are designed for qualified disaster victims who are either uninsured or are not fully covered by insurance.
FINAL DAYS OF FEMA REGISTRATION PERIOD
April 10, 2006 is the final day for homeowners, renters and business owners with property damage from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to apply for federal and state disaster assistance. Individuals who have not registered may do so by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) (TTY: 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- and hearing-impaired). Calls may be made seven days a week from 6 a.m. to midnight CST. Applicants may also register for assistance online at FEMA's Web Site, www.fema.gov
Below is an overview of activity for Hurricane Rita at the six month point.
| 6 | Number of Disaster recovery Centers (DRCs) now open to assist Hurricane Rita victims.
|
| 17,222 |
Number of travel trailers and mobile homes serving as temporary homes for Hurricane Rita victims.
|
| 39,115 |
Number of damaged roofs have been temporarily protected under FEMA's "Blue Roof" program operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
|
| 602,325 | Number of home inspections completed by FEMA to determine disaster program eligibility.
|
| $12.9 million | Amount of Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance delivered to date.
|
| $171.4 million | Amount of Other Needs Assistance grant monies approved.
|
| $303.1 million | U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans approved.
|
| $900.4 million | Individual Housing Program
|
| $276.8 million | Federal dollars obligated for Public Assistance projects.
|
| $381.7 million | Federal dollars paid out in NFIP claims under the National Flood Insurance Program.
|
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, 24-Mar-2006 09:24:19