Hurricane Katrina Mississippi Recovery Update
Release Date: March 5, 2009
Release Number: 1604-703
» More Information on Mississippi Hurricane Katrina
Biloxi, Miss. -- The following is a summary of Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts in Mississippi as of Feb. 25, 2009:
Individual support continues with nearly $1.3 billion to individuals and families affected by Hurricane Katrina:
- 274,760 individuals and families have been approved for the Individuals and Households Program (IHP) totaling nearly $1.3 billion;
- 216,558 individuals and families have been approved for Housing Assistance totaling more than $851 million;
- 134,928 Mississippians have been approved for more than $416 million in Other Needs Assistance (ONA);
- 2,342 temporary housing units (travel trailers and mobile homes) remain in service. More than 90 percent of those units are located on private property. More than 40,900 units have been deactivated;
- 1,316 total occupied units are in the three lower counties:
- Hancock 291
- Harrison 647
- Jackson 378
More than 2,800 Mississippi families moved from FEMA temporary housing to Mississippi Cottage units. The Mississippi Cottage was developed through the Mississippi Alternative Housing Program, which is administered by MEMA and is funded by a $280 million federal grant. For more information about the program, visit www.mscottage.org. The goal of the program is to develop and produce a safer, more comfortable temporary housing unit for use after a disaster. The program is drawing to a close in early 2009. Less than 2,400 cottages remain occupied. MEMA continues to work with local communities to develop permanent housing options for cottage residents.
Through an intra-agency agreement between FEMA and the U.S. Coast Guard, the marine debris removal effort restores Mississippi's coastal and inland waterways:
- The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), utilizing local companies, has cleared nearly 390,000 cubic yards of marine debris from coastal waters in Harrison, Hancock and Jackson counties since May 2006.
- Fifteen of the 16 contracts have been completed.
- The contract in the marsh areas north of Bay St. Louis in Hancock/Harrison counties is complete with the exception of monitoring the reforestation required by the permit obtained by the USCG from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Approximately 88,000 cubic yards of debris has been removed as a result of this project alone.
- The reforestation of the area impacted by cleanup operations in the marsh took place on Feb. 9.
- Total Marine Debris Removal from waterways of the three coastal counties:
- Jackson County: 74,350 cubic yards
- Harrison County: 199,331 cubic yards
- Hancock County: 116,253 cubic yards
More than $2.8 billion has been obligated in various Public Assistance (PA) categories for infrastructure damage caused by Hurricane Katrina:
- More than $708 million obligated for land-based debris removal; more than $900 million in Direct Federal Assistance funds were obligated to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the land-based debris removal mission.
- To date, more than 46 million cubic yards of debris has been removed - that's equal to a football field stacked approximately 4.9 miles high.
- $870 million to repair public utilities;
- $611 million to repair or replace public buildings;
- $395 million for emergency protective measures;
- $78 million to repair roads and bridges;
- $1.3 million to repair water control devices such as ditches and irrigation channels.
- $160 million to repair and restore public recreational facilities such as state parks;
- $105 million to meet the costs of administering the PA grants.
MEMA administers PA funds. To date, MEMA has disbursed more than $1.67 billion to Hurricane Katrina PA applicants for debris removal and rebuilding projects including bridges, public buildings and utilities.
Preparing today for tomorrow's disasters:
- FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) brings together federal, state and local governments to prepare communities for future disaster events by providing grants to implement long-term solutions for protecting lives and property.
- MEMA, as designated by the governor of Mississippi, administers the HMGP. MEMA provides eligible grant applicants with assistance in mitigation planning, project selection, application development and reimbursement.
- Currently, FEMA has 238 state-approved applications for new Hazard Mitigation projects totaling more than $152 million in obligated funding.
- Across the state, 264 jurisdictions have MEMA/FEMA approved Hazard Mitigation plans.
- Specific efforts are being directed to develop wind retrofit and drainage projects.
- The amount of funding available for the HMGP following a disaster is 7.5 percent of the total amount of federal assistance. $393 million in HMGP funds is available for Mississippi as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 17-Mar-2009 17:03:53