Recovery Includes a Plan for Long-Term Housing

BATON ROUGE, La — For Louisiana flood survivors, recovery may include short-term FEMA assistance. Keep in mind that FEMA’s housing assistance comes with periodic checks on the need for continued help—and housing plans. Recovery is about planning.

Applicants may qualify for continued assistance if they demonstrate their need and develop a longer-term or permanent housing plan or demonstrate progress in one. A contractor’s estimate on repairs or a report on repairs can point to progress. Applicants need to keep rental receipts, canceled checks or money orders showing proper use of previous rental assistance. Recovery progress can be marked by accepting the first offer of adequate, alternate housing when it becomes available.

FEMA housing occupants with no housing plans will be given information and tools to help them find available housing. The FEMA helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY, at 800-462-7585 can assist with a list of rental properties. For a rental-unit database, check https://asd.fema.gov/inter/hportal/home.htm. Survivors should keep in contact with their insurance companies, their case managers if assigned, and with FEMA; each may open a door to another recovery opportunity.

FEMA aims to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars by requiring applicants to demonstrate they have a continuing need for temporary assistance. Applications for continued assistance will be mailed to homeowners. Renters can call the FEMA helpline and ask for an application. Renters need to contact their previous landlords to find out if they will be permitted to move back into their former units.

Recovery for many Louisiana flood survivors began with finding a place to stay, a temporary refuge. With others it began with removing debris, mucking out a home or re-opening a business.  Each recovery story has a beginning, a middle and an outcome defined by a more stable situation. FEMA’s assistance will not make Louisiana flood survivors whole again, but can help in making the first few important steps to recovery.

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Recovery Includes a Plan for Long-Term Housing

SBA Loans Valuable for Recovery from Disaster

BATON ROUGE, La. — Submit your U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loan application now to prevent missing out on potential funding for your recovery.

An SBA loan can help repair flood-related damage to your home or business and replace personal property. SBA representatives provide one-on-one assistance through the entire disaster loan process to assist in your recovery.

Landlords and most private non-profits, including churches, are eligible for low-interest SBA disaster loans. State and federal recovery officials encourage them to apply.

A loan offer provides the financial resources to pay for repairs if the SBA approves your application. You are under no obligation to accept the loan if approved.

You must return a completed SBA disaster loan application by Monday, Nov. 14, if you want to borrow money for repairs.

It is a critical recovery step to return a loan application. The SBA may refer you back to FEMA for other potential grants if they cannot offer you a loan. The grants may pay for flood-damaged furniture, appliances and vehicles.

The SBA provides low-interest disaster loans of up to $200,000 to repair your primary residence, up to $40,000 for homeowners and renters to replace personal property and up to $2 million to businesses and most private non-profits for physical damage and economic injury needs as a result of the disaster.

Learn more and visit sba.gov/disaster or call 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339. If you use 711 or Video Relay Service, call 800-659-2955.

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SBA Loans Valuable for Recovery from Disaster

Disaster Recovery Center in Vermilion Parish Will Transition to Disaster Loan Outreach Center to Serve Louisiana Survivors

BATON ROUGE, La. — The U.S. Small Business Administration is opening a disaster loan outreach center on Tuesday, Nov. 8, in Vermilion Parish to assist Louisiana flood survivors. The center will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, until further notice. 
Vermilion Parish
Location:  Old Health Unit
                  401 S. St. Charles St.
                  Abbeville, LA 70510
Hours:      9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Monday through Friday)

The new disaster loan outreach center will be transitioning from the FEMA disaster recovery center at the same address that will cease operations at 6 p.m. on Nov. 7.

Need for the Abbeville disaster recovery center has diminished as the community continues to repair and rebuild; the facility will now become a disaster loan outreach center to serve individuals with SBA loans.

Survivors can still visit any other disaster recovery center and may locate other centers near them by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362, texting DRC and your zip code to 43362, downloading the FEMA mobile app or going online to fema.gov/drc.

Representatives from the SBA will be available at the disaster loan outreach center to meet with business owners and residents to answer questions, explain SBA’s disaster loan program, help complete loan applications and close their approved disaster loans. Business owners and residents can meet with SBA representatives on the days and times indicated. No appointment is necessary.

Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA are available for businesses of all sizes, most private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters.
Applicants for disaster loans may also apply online using the electronic loan application via SBA’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

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Disaster Recovery Center in Vermilion Parish Will Transition to Disaster Loan Outreach Center to Serve Louisiana Survivors

Disaster Unemployment Assistance to Louisiana Residents Tops

BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana residents whose jobs were affected by the August flooding have received more than $1 million in Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance supports Louisiana residents who:

  • Have had at least a week of unemployment as a consequence of the flooding;
  • Were unable to reach work because of flooded routes or damaged transportation;
  • Were prevented from starting a new job because of the flooding;
  • Became the monetary support for a household whose head died from the flood; or
  • Cannot work because of an injury caused by the flooding. 

Although the deadline to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance has passed, eligible individuals who applied for the program before the deadline may receive payments until Feb. 18, 2017, as long as their unemployment continues to be disaster-related.

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Disaster Unemployment Assistance to Louisiana Residents Tops

Registration Deadline for Disaster Assistance Is Two Weeks Away

BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana disaster survivors affected by August flooding have two weeks left to register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The deadline to register is Monday, Nov. 14, 2016.

Survivors may register with FEMA by going online with any computer, smartphone or tablet to DisasterAssistance.gov, calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362, or downloading the FEMA mobile app. Survivors who use a TTY may call 800-462-7585 to register.

Survivors can also register for assistance at any FEMA disaster recovery center. To find a disaster recovery center near you, call the FEMA helpline or text DRC and your zip code to 43362. You can also find a center near you by downloading the FEMA mobile app or going online to fema.gov/drc.

FEMA assistance for homeowners and renters may include grants for rent, temporary housing and home repair to their primary residence, as well as other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs.
Survivors should also be sure to submit their disaster loan application to the U.S. Small Business Administration by Nov.14.

Submitting a loan application does not imply acceptance of a loan, but it is a necessary step to being considered for other forms of disaster assistance.  

For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at SBA.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339. SBA representatives are also available at any disaster recovery center, disaster loan outreach center, or business recovery center.

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Registration Deadline for Disaster Assistance Is Two Weeks Away

Louisiana Flood Survivors Can Get FEMA Rebuilding Advice

BATON ROUGE, La. —Local home-improvement stores and FEMA have teamed up to provide free information to survivors repairing or rebuilding their homes safer and stronger following Louisiana’s August severe storms and floods.

FEMA mitigation specialists will provide information at the following area Doug Ashy Building Materials, Home Depot, Lowe’s and Stine Lumber stores Monday, Oct. 17 through Saturday, Oct. 29. They will be available to answer questions and offer home-improvement tips and proven methods to prevent and lessen damage from future disasters. Most of the information is aimed at people who prefer “do-it-yourself” projects and general contractors.

Mitigation specialists are in this Doug Ashy Building Materials store 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday:

Lafayette Parish

  • 302 E. Texas Ave., Rayne, La.

Mitigation specialists are in this Home Depot store 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday:

East Baton Rouge Parish

  • 10300 Coursey Blvd. Baton Rouge, La.

Mitigation specialists in these Lowe’s stores 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday:

East Baton Rouge Parish

  • 9460 Cortana Blvd. Baton Rouge, La. 
  • 10303 S. Mall Drive, Baton Rouge, La.

Lafayette Parish

  • 120 East Gloria Switch Road, Lafayette, La.
  • St. John the Baptist 300 W. Airline Highway, Laplace, La.

Mitigation specialists are in this Stine Lumber store 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday:

Lafayette Parish

  • 6501 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Broussard, La.

Free reference booklets, in English and Spanish, with information on protecting your home from flood damage, are available at all locations. More information about strengthening property can be found at http://www.fema.gov/what-mitigation.

Survivors who have questions about their flood insurance policies and coverage should contact the National Flood Insurance Program call center at 800-621-3362 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Additional information on Louisiana’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4277, twitter.com/femaregion6, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMA, fema.gov/blog and http://www.fema.gov/louisiana-disaster-mitigation.

Two female FEMA employees handing mitigation information to a resident at local hardware store.

September 30, 2016 – St. Martin Parish — FEMA partnered with local hardware stores to provide an opportunity for customers to talk face-to-face with experienced personnel about building requirements, regulations and preventive measures to mitigate damages to property and life. FEMA is emphasizing alertness among communities that have been affected by past severe flood August 14, 2016 and future natural disasters to be ready for all types of emergencies. ( In the photo: local resident, Mrs. Jeanne Heller and Mrs. Cynthia H. Rawles from FEMA Mitigation division ) Photo by: Rossyveth Rey-Berríos/FEMA

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Louisiana Flood Survivors Can Get FEMA Rebuilding Advice

Louisiana Gets FEMA Money for Debris Cleanup, Home Repair Program, Public Safety

BATON ROUGE, La. – FEMA has awarded the state approximately $146 million to reimburse local entities for expenses related to response and recovery efforts as a result of August’s severe storms and floods.

Here is a breakdown of the funding:

  •  Nearly $40 million for debris removal expenses in East Baton Rouge Parish.
  • More than $6 million for debris removal expenses in Livingston Parish.
  • More than $5 million for expenses related to the National Guard’s public safety actions during the disaster response.
  • Nearly $95 million for the state’s Shelter at Home program that provides emergency repairs to disaster-damaged homes of disaster survivors.

FEMA continues working with its local and state partners to ensure they are reimbursed all eligible disaster-related expenses.  

The funds were made available through FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program. The program reimburses disaster-related expenses to eligible local, state and certain private nonprofit entities in 26 designated parishes to repair or replace disaster-damaged facilities and infrastructure.

The 26 designated parishes for PA funding are Acadia, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Livingston, Point Coupee, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Vermilion, Washington, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana.

FEMA typically reimburses 75 percent of eligible PA expenses. However, applicants will be reimbursed 90 percent of eligible PA expenses given the magnitude of the August severe storms and floods. The federal portion is paid directly to the state, which then disburses the funds to the applicants.

Excavator picking up debris on the side of the road.

Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Debris cleanup begins in Zachary, La. (Photo by J.T. Blatty/FEMA)

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Louisiana Gets FEMA Money for Debris Cleanup, Home Repair Program, Public Safety

College Students May Qualify for Disaster Assistance

BATON ROUGE, La. – Students at Louisiana colleges or universities in areas affected by the August flooding may be eligible for FEMA disaster grants to help with damage to or losses of personal vehicles, clothing, text books and school supplies.

Disaster assistance loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available up to $40,000 for personal property loss of vehicles, furniture and other personal items.

Students do not need to be permanent residents of the designated parishes to be eligible for assistance. However, the property damage or loss must have occurred in a flooded area.

To apply:

  • Call FEMA’s toll-free registration number, 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY at 800-462-7585; for 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362. Multilingual operators are available.
  • Go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

Disaster recovery centers are open in various locations throughout designated parishes that were flooded. Representatives of FEMA and other agencies can provide information about disaster assistance, flood insurance, personal and property flood-risk reduction and low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses.

Locate a center by visiting fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers, calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362, or downloading the FEMA mobile app.

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College Students May Qualify for Disaster Assistance

Louisiana Flood Survivors Can Still Get FEMA Rebuilding Advice

BATON ROUGE, La. — As Louisianans repair or rebuild their homes damaged by August floods, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and local hardware and home-improvement stores have teamed up to provide free information on making homes stronger and safer.

FEMA mitigation specialists are still on hand to provide information at the following area Home Depot and Lowe’s stores through Oct. 15. They are available to answer questions and offer home-improvement tips and proven methods to prevent and lessen damage from future disasters. Most of the information is aimed at people who prefer “do-it-yourself” projects and general contractors.

FEMA advisors are on hand at information centers in these Lowe’s stores 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday:

East Baton Rouge Parish
1777 Millerville Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70816

Iberia Parish
2816 Highway-14
New Iberia, LA 70560

Mitigation specialists are in these Home Depot stores 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday:

Ascension Parish
2740 South Cajun Ave.
Gonzales, LA 70737

East Baton Rouge Parish
8181 Airline Highway
Baton Rouge, LA 70815

East Baton Rouge Parish
6600 Main Street
Zachary, LA 70791

St. Martin Parish
213 St. Nazaire Road
Broussard, LA 70518

Free reference booklets, in English and Spanish, with information on protecting your home from flood damage, are available at all locations. More information about strengthening property can be found at http://www.fema.gov/what-mitigation.

Survivors who have questions about their flood insurance policies and coverage should contact the National Flood Insurance Program call center at 800-621-3362 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. (CT) Monday through Friday.

Additional information on Louisiana’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4277, twitter.com/femaregion6, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMA, fema.gov/blog and www.fema.gov/louisiana-disaster-mitigation.

FEMA Mitigation representatives speaking to two women inside a home improvement store. A table with FEMA Mitigations information is available for the shoppers to take.

Mitigation representatives from FEMA offer advice to customers inside of the Home Depot in Baton Rouge, La. (Photo by J.T. Blatty/FEMA)

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Louisiana Flood Survivors Can Still Get FEMA Rebuilding Advice

Debris Removal Continues; Now More than 50 Percent Complete

BATON ROUGE, La. – Recovery officials estimate that recent flooding left 4.8 million cubic yards or 80,000 truckloads of debris in its wake. Removal of that debris is an important sign of progress in disaster recovery, but it takes time. On Sept. 25, debris removal hit the 55-percent completion mark.

For the August flooding, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance program will reimburse eligible Louisiana jurisdictions 90 percent of reasonable costs involved in debris removal. To receive reimbursement for debris removal, a local jurisdiction must be eligible for the program and have the legal authority to remove debris from public rights-of-way.

Reasonable costs include overtime for full-time employees as well as contractor fees for removal, disposal, recycling and/or monitoring. (The contract must have been competitively bid and comply with state, federal and local standards.)

In general, private property debris removal is not eligible for FEMA reimbursement under the law. However, because of the large amount of debris, the threat it posed to human health and safety, and the lack of right-of-way to deposit debris FEMA has expanded curbside debris removal for the recent Louisiana flooding. Property owners who have questions should contact their local emergency manager. Before anyone can go onto private property, the local jurisdiction must have a sworn statement of permission from the property owner to remove debris.

Recovery officials encourage people to continue sorting debris into categories and moving it to the curbside. The categories are household garbage; construction debris; vegetative debris; household hazardous waste; white goods (i.e., washing machines, refrigerators, etc.); and electronics.

Separating debris will speed recovery. However, recovery officials want to remind everyone to be safe, especially during ongoing debris removal operations. The sight of heavy trucks hauling debris may seem familiar, but it is vital to follow safety guidelines at all times around debris and heavy equipment.

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Debris Removal Continues; Now More than 50 Percent Complete

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