Release Date: February 22, 2006
Release Number: 1603-362
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» More Information on Louisiana Hurricane Katrina
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Here is an update on what federal and state agencies have done in the five months since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit Louisiana . These numbers, except where noted, are exclusive to Louisiana as of Feb 21, 2006.
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 27-year history. |
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24 |
Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Louisiana . DRC's 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. |
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492 |
To date, 492 vessels, which were federally funded by FEMA's mission assignment, have been removed by the U.S. Coast Guard. |
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2,772 |
FEMA has leased 2,772 units in cruise ships . |
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2,997 |
There are 2,997 federal housing units occupied. This consists of HUD- and USDA-approved housing. |
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8,116 |
The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved 8,116 businesses for disaster assistance loans . Total: $702.3 million. |
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42,460 |
Approximately 42,460 travel trailers and manufactured housing units are now in use as temporary homes for hurricane victims. Louisiana has a significant number of such housing among impacted Gulf Coast states. In all, more than 62,800 units are temporary homes for victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, nearly triple the number of units used after all of last year's Florida hurricanes and far exceeding any housing mission in FEMA's history. |
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48,577 |
LA Swift, the free emergency bus system between Baton Rouge and New Orleans for displaced residents, has served 48,577 passengers in seven daily round trips since October 31, 2005. |
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49,000 |
FEMA's Disaster Medical Assistance 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. |
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81,318 |
There are more than 81,000 damaged roofs that have been temporarily covered under 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. |
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269,949 |
In Louisiana, 269,949 checks totaling over $1 billion were issued for Other Needs Assistance . The program provides assistance for serious, disaster-related needs to impacted individuals. |
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1 million |
FEMA has completed over 1 million 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. |
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34.2 million |
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, along with some Louisiana Parishes, has removed 34.2 million cubic yards of debris. |
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$164 million |
FEMA has approved $164 million in unemployment assistance for 108,000 eligible hurricane victims in Louisiana who signed up during the application period. |
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$1.3 billion |
More than $1.3 billion in federal dollars has been allocated for Public Assistance (PA) projects, such as debris removal and emergency services in Louisiana , equaling the amount allocated for PA grants in Florida in the eight months following the 2004 hurricane season. |
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$2.9 billion |
The SBA has approved more than $2.9 billion in disaster assistance loans to 40,018 business owners, homeowners and renters in Louisiana . |
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$3.3 billion |
FEMA has paid out $3.3 billion in housing assistance to Louisiana victims. |
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$4.5 billion |
FEMA has provided more than $4.5 billion directly to Louisiana victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita for financial and housing assistance through the Individuals and Households 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 Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and 1994's Northridge Earthquake. |
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$12.1 billion |
To date, FEMA has paid out $12.1 billion in Louisiana under the National Flood Insurance Program to policyholders in Louisiana . |
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: Thursday, 23-Feb-2006 09:40:16