FEMA Hotel/Motel Program Extended In Louisiana To Jan. 7
Release Date: December 9, 2005
Release Number: 1603-209
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today granted the State of Louisiana’s request for an extension of FEMA’s program using federal funds to provide temporary hotel and motel housing for Hurricane Katrina and Rita evacuees. As one of 10 states housing 92 percent of the evacuee population nationwide, Louisiana was eligible for an additional extension. The hotel/motel program will now end Jan. 7, 2006, rather than Dec. 15, 2005 in Louisiana.
Other states eligible to request the Jan. 7 extension are: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Nevada, Tennessee and Texas.
Federal Coordinating Officer for the Louisiana recovery operation Scott Wells granted the extension following receipt of a housing placement plan and timeline from Louisiana’s Governor Kathleen Blanco. The extension was approved to accommodate efforts to move all evacuees out of hotels and into apartments and longer-term housing.
FEMA continues to reach out to evacuees through public service announcements, local media, and by distributing flyers to evacuees in hotels to provide them with further information about the assistance they may be eligible for and help in finding longer-term housing if needed. FEMA’s Community Relations Officers are interviewing more than 9,000 households still residing in hotels and motels to discuss housing options. FEMA also has set up a housing referral service.
Evacuees who need help finding longer-term housing may contact FEMA’s housing locator service at 1-800-762-8740 or TTY 1-800-462-7585, open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For other forms of assistance and questions, evacuees may contact FEMA’s helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For individuals and families who were displaced from federally subsidized low-income housing by Rita or Katrina or for displaced homeless persons, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has a disaster assistance housing program available. To learn more, call 1-866-373-9509 or TTY 1-800-877-8339.
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: Friday, 09-Dec-2005 19:15:19