Hurricane Isaac Three Months Later: Adding Up the Recovery in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La. – In the nearly three months since Hurricane Isaac thrashed Louisiana, recovery has progressed for survivors, businesses and communities.

Below is a snapshot from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the state and federal assistance dollars approved to date and some milestones reached since the Aug. 29 disaster declaration:

$370.2 million     The FEMA-administered National Flood Insurance Program has paid $370,243,578 on claims from policyholders in Louisiana.

$365.3 million     Eligible Louisianians and their communities have been approved for state and federal assistance totaling $365,265,362.

$116.7 million     FEMA and the state have approved $116,699,418 in disaster assistance for Louisianians through FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program, which helps eligible applicants with emergency home repairs; uninsured personal property losses; and medical, dental and funeral expenses caused by the disaster. It also helps cover other disaster-related expenses.

$135.3 million     The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $135,263,200 in low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses throughout the disaster area.

$113.2 million     FEMA has obligated $113,230,302 to cover 75 percent of the costs incurred by the state and local communities for repairs to storm-damaged infrastructure, removal of storm-related debris and for measures taken to protect people before, during and after the hurricane – including search and rescue, law enforcement, shelters and emergency care.

198,808     A total of 198,808 Louisianians have registered for disaster assistance in the 26 parishes designated for Individual Assistance.

138,553     FEMA housing inspectors have completed 138,553 home inspections, an important first step in determining eligibility for housing assistance.

117,540     Survivors at 117,540 homes, schools, and community- and faith-based organizations were contacted by the more than 300 FEMA Community Relations (CR) specialists who responded to Hurricane Isaac. The CR teams visited parishes designated for Individual Assistance, providing information, and answering survivors’ questions in neighborhoods, at Disaster Recovery Centers, and at points of distribution and shelters early in the response. They also reported critical issues in real-time for immediate action.

$72,442     Workers who have lost their jobs or those who are self-employed and unable to provide their services because of Hurricane Isaac have received $72,442 in Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

40,486     Storm survivors numbering 40,486 have visited Disaster Recovery Centers since the first one opened Sept. 1, just one day after the Individual Assistance designation. Forty recovery centers operated in 23 parishes after the Aug. 29 disaster declaration. Centers remain open in St. John and Jefferson parishes.

24,618     FEMA Mitigation specialists have provided advice and tips on how to repair and rebuild safer and stronger homes to 24,618 Louisianians at recovery centers, home improvement stores, and fairs and festivals.

2,294     During the 10 weeks of the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program, 2,294 storm survivors participated. The program allowed eligible evacuees from Hurricane Isaac whose neighborhoods were not accessible or whose houses were severely damaged or lacked utilities to stay in a hotel or motel on an emergency basis. FEMA paid the hotel for the cost of the room and taxes.

1,753     FEMA specialists numbering 1,753 deployed from around the United States to help Louisiana respond to and recover from Hurricane Isaac. FEMA teams continue to work with whole community partners to advance the recovery effort and mitigate against future hazards.

300     More than 300 AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members served in Louisiana starting in the days before Hurricane Isaac made landfall. They assisted in shelters, volunteer centers and neighborhoods, and helped survivors and communities clean up and rebuild after the storm.

150     More than 150 voluntary agencies have called upon their volunteers, some from throughout the United States, to provide one-on-one help to Isaac survivors in a range of programs and services. A number of the agencies will be part of the long-term recovery effort, working to meet the needs of hurricane survivors that go beyond state and federal assistance dollars.

99     FEMA Corps’ first cadre of 99 young adults joined the Hurricane Isaac response in October under their first assignment with the new program. Aimed at enhancing the nation’s ability to assist disaster survivors while expanding career opportunities for young people, FEMA Corps is a unique partnership between FEMA and the Corporation for National and Community Service and AmeriCorps.

55     A total of 55 Louisiana parishes are designated for assistance under FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant Program: Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Cameron, Catahoula, Claiborne, Concordia, East Carroll, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Franklin, Iberia, Iberville, Jackson, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, La Salle, Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Orleans, Ouachita, Plaquemines, Point Coupee, Rapides, Richland, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Tensas, Terrebonne, Union, Vermillion, Washington, West Baton Rouge, West Carroll and West Feliciana.

26     A total of 26 parishes have been designated for aid under the Individuals and Households Program. These include Allen, Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Morehouse, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana parishes.

9     The SBA opened nine Business Recovery Centers in six parishes, where customer service representatives and counselors met one on one with business owners who sustained property damage and economic loss as a result of Hurricane Isaac.

3     It has been nearly three months since Hurricane Isaac battered Louisiana.

Survivors in Louisiana affected by Hurricane Isaac can apply for disaster assistance until the Nov. 29 deadline. They may apply online at www.disasterassistance.gov, at m.fema.gov with a smartphone, or by phone at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. Survivors who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 800-621-3362.

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

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status.  If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.  Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/femaregion6, the R6 Hurricane Preparedness website at www.fema.gov/about/regions/regionvi/updates.shtm and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of funding for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339).