Hurricane Isaac Recovery Marks Milestones in Helping Survivors

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its state and local partners are marking three milestones in Louisiana’s recovery from Hurricane Isaac:

• $100 million in approved disaster assistance;
• 10,000 visits to Disaster Recovery Centers;
• And approaching 100,000 housing inspections;

“Disaster assistance is getting where it is needed, to the individuals, families and communities affected by Hurricane Isaac,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall of FEMA. “The rebuilding effort is happening, and FEMA is continuing to support our local, state and federal partners as they recover.”

In the 16 days since the major disaster declaration, $100,961,288 in disaster assistance has been approved for Louisiana. That total includes $69,790,187 in Individual Assistance grants and $272,000 in U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loans for qualified homeowners, renters and business owners.

Public Assistance funds have reached $30,899,351 for eligible state agencies, local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations in designated parishes that provide critical and essential services to the general public.

Meanwhile, Disaster Recovery Centers have logged 10,067 visits. Recovery centers are readily accessible facilities where applicants may go for information about FEMA, the SBA or other disaster assistance programs, or with questions related to their cases. Twenty centers are open in 15 parishes.

FEMA housing inspectors have completed 98,702 inspections during which they document damage but do not determine the applicant’s eligibility. They check for damage to the structure and building systems, to major appliances and septic systems and wells, and report the information to FEMA. This speeds up the process of providing assistance.

To date, more than 171,000 individuals and families have registered for assistance at www.disasterassistance.gov, via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers are operating from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

The Individual Assistance grants are going to individuals and families in 21 designated parishes: Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington and West Feliciana. The grants may help pay for temporary housing and emergency home repairs to make a home habitable or for serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance.

For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, go online at www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. You can follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion6 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA. Also visit our blog at www.fema.gove/blog.