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Disaster Assistance Tops $66 Million in Jefferson Parish

BATON ROUGE, La. – Nearly six months since the Aug. 29, 2012, federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Isaac in Louisiana, more than $66 million in state and federal disaster assistance has been approved for the parish. Disaster assistance for survivors and their communities in Jefferson Parish now totals $66,002,788.

Jefferson Parish by the Numbers

TOTAL Individual Assistance grants: $17,973,620

Housing Assistance approved: $14,210,283
Other Needs Assistance approved: $3,763,338

TOTAL Public Assistance obligations: $17,185,668

TOTAL U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loans: $30,843,500

Free crisis counseling is still available to children and adults in Jefferson Parish by calling 504-532-5123. Trained counselors are provided by a network of state human services authorities and districts to take calls and meet with survivors face to face if a follow-up session is needed.

“Programs such as crisis counseling are in place to meet the continuing emotional needs of survivors,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard Stolar of FEMA. “Receiving the right support can help most survivors continue to move on with their lives following Hurricane Isaac.”

Survivors affected by Hurricane Isaac who would like to speak to a FEMA representative may call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Survivors who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362.

More information on Louisiana disaster recovery is available online at www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. FEMA is also on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA.

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Disaster Assistance Tops $66 Million in Jefferson Parish

Disaster Assistance Nears $91 Million in St. John Parish

BATON ROUGE, La. – Nearly six months since the Aug. 29, 2012, federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Isaac in Louisiana, nearly $91 million in state and federal disaster assistance has been approved for the parish. Disaster assistance for survivors and their communities in St. John Parish now totals $90,989,232.

St. John Parish by the Numbers

TOTAL Individual Assistance grants: $31,522,411

Housing Assistance approved: $25,854,147
Other Needs Assistance approved: $5,668,263

TOTAL Public Assistance obligations: $11,639,721

TOTAL U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loans: $47,827,100

Free crisis counseling is still available to children and adults in St. John Parish by calling 985-688-9266 from 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. or 877-500-9997 from 5:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Trained counselors are provided by a network of state human services authorities and districts to take calls and meet with survivors face to face if a follow-up session is needed.

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Disaster Assistance Nears $91 Million in St. John Parish

Hurricane Isaac Six Months Later: $500 Million in Recovery Dollars – and Counting

Hurricane Isaac Six Months Later: $500 Million in Recovery Dollars – and Counting

BATON ROUGE, La. – In the nearly six 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:

$506.3 million

Eligible Louisianians and their communities have been approved for state and federal assistance totaling $506,308,559.

$416.5 million

The FEMA-administered National Flood Insurance Program has paid $416,486,815 on claims from policyholders in Louisiana.

$215.6 million

FEMA has obligated $215,568,977 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.

$160.7 million

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $160,690,700 in low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses throughout the disaster area.

$129.9 million

FEMA and the state have approved $129,863,867 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.

$7.4 million

FEMA awarded the state a $7.4 million grant to fund a Disaster Case Management Program, which will help Hurricane Isaac survivors who have serious unmet needs even after receiving state and federal disaster assistance.

$6.8 million

FEMA grants of $6,845,882 for Crisis Counseling provided trained counselors to help adults and children in the 26 parishes designated for Individual Assistance work through post-disaster emotional stress.

199,744

A total of 199,744 Louisianians registered for disaster assistance in the 26 parishes designated for Individual Assistance.

$185,015

Workers who have lost their jobs or those who are self-employed and unable to provide their services because of Hurricane Isaac have received $185,015 in Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

141,186

117,540

FEMA housing inspectors completed 141,186 home inspections, the important first step in determining eligibility for housing assistance.

Survivors at 117,540 homes, schools, and community- and faith-based organizations were contacted by the more than 300 FEMA Community Relations specialists who responded to Hurricane Isaac.

41,328

Storm survivors numbering 41,328 visited Disaster Recovery Centers. The first of 40 centers opened Sept. 1, just one day after the Individual Assistance designation.

2,294

1,753

During the 10 weeks of the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program, 2,294 storm survivors and families stayed in hotels on an emergency basis. FEMA paid the hotels for the cost of the rooms and taxes as survivors worked out alternative housing plans.

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.

400

More than 400 AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and FEMA Corps members assisted Louisianians in shelters, volunteer centers and neighborhoods, and helped survivors and communities clean up and rebuild after the storm.

150

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

Number of Louisiana parishes 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.

Number of parishes designated for aid under the Individuals and Households Program: 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.

Number of weeks since FEMA personnel began arriving to assist Louisianians affected by Hurricane Isaac.

The SBA opened 10 Business Recovery Centers in seven parishes, where customer service representatives and counselors met with business owners who sustained property damage and economic loss as a result of Hurricane Isaac.

Louisiana was the first state in the nation to appoint a state disaster recovery coordinator and local disaster recovery managers under the National Disaster Recovery Framework.

Survivors in Louisiana who have questions regarding their FEMA Individual Assistance may call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Survivors who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services may call 1-800-621-3362.

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Hurricane Isaac Six Months Later: $500 Million in Recovery Dollars – and Counting

Six Months of Progress After Hurricane Isaac: Moving from “Survive” to “Thrive” in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La. – Six months after Hurricane Isaac slammed into the Gulf coast, Louisianians are starting to make the transition from “survive” to “thrive.” Hard-hit communities are planning how to build back better than ever even as their residents are working to get their lives back on track.

The hurricane may have left a trail of muck and misery through Louisiana after it hit in late August, but the hard work of survivors, their families and community leaders, plus hundreds of millions of dollars in state and federal assistance, have made a significant contribution to the state’s recovery.

“Every day, Louisiana’s residents, families, businesses and communities make progress in getting their lives back to normal after Hurricane Isaac’s devastating winds, rains and floods,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “There is much work still to do, but their efforts show their resilience and their determination to come back better than ever.”

Today, disaster assistance has topped $506 million. This includes:

More than $129.8 million in grants from FEMA’s Individual Assistance (IA) program,
Nearly $160.7 million in low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and
More than $215.5 million in reimbursements to the state and local governments , educational institutions, community services and public safety organizations from FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program.

Public Assistance, in conjunction with its state and local partners, continues to move forward as it helps Louisiana’s storm-ravaged parishes meet the challenges of repairing damaged infrastructure and covering the costs of debris cleanup and emergency measures taken before, during and after the storm to protect the lives and safety of Louisianians.

Those Public Assistance reimbursement dollars, while awarded to eligible government entities and nonprofits throughout the state, benefit everyone — neighborhoods, parishes and cities. PA dollars help clean up communities overwhelmed by disaster-related debris, repair roads and bridges people use every day getting to work, ensure hospitals, fire stations and other vital community services are restored, put utilities and water systems back in order and restore playground equipment to public parks.

While dollar amounts are an important part of Louisiana’s recovery, they do not tell the full story of the state and federal family’s commitment to the state since the hurricane drenched, flooded and otherwise damaged the state.

As survivors continue to repair or rebuild their homes, their businesses and their lives, long-term recovery groups have been hard at work in 15 storm-damaged parishes. FEMA’s Voluntary Agency Liaisons work closely with these groups, which are formed from a network of nonprofit and voluntary agencies and faith- and community-based organizations and help survivors meet their longer-term needs.

Although many survivors are well on their way to restoring their homes and property, recovery does not occur at the same pace for everyone. FEMA, the state, the private sector and voluntary agencies continue to collaborate to find ways to help.

Meanwhile, a continuing state-administered crisis counseling program serves adults and children who need help identifying ways to deal with the stresses of surviving and recovering from a hurricane.

FEMA support personnel also are working to help survivors through the new National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF), activated for the first time in the state of Louisiana. Like the disaster’s very first response efforts, extended recovery and revitalization require a united effort starting at the local level. As communities envision their futures and prioritize their needs and wants, they can draw on expertise and resources from a variety of state and federal agencies.

Community involvement began early. Just weeks after the Aug. 29 disaster declaration, two parishes named local disaster recovery managers and the state named Mark Riley as its disaster recovery coordinator. Wayne Rickard of FEMA was appointed the federal disaster recovery coordinator under the NDRF.

In late January, St. John Parish, which sustained severe damage from Hurricane Isaac, held its first public open houses to map the course of the community’s recovery. At these events, residents contributed ideas and received information about how they could help rebuild their parish. In hard-hit Plaquemines Parish, a similar community initiative is in its early stages.

“It’s exciting to see the ideas and energy in the local initiatives,” Rickard said. “And as other Louisiana communities begin planning for future disasters, they can also call on a wealth of state and federal resources for support and assistance.”

FEMA also continues to work hand in hand with our state and local partners, and reach out to the federal family as we search for viable solutions to the more complex issues that stand in the way of full community recovery.

National Flood Insurance Program experts continue to offer information and guidance to individuals affected by recent flood insurance reform. They have spoken with Louisianians at community forums and by telephone to make sure residents have the most accurate information on which to base their decisions for their families and themselves.

The first FEMA personnel arrived in Louisiana days before Hurricane Isaac hit the state. The agency will remain here for the long haul, committed to supporting our state and local partners as the Whole Community works together to find solutions to the issues that remain.

More information on Louisiana disaster recovery, including recovery photos, is available online at www.fema.gov/disaster/4080. Information can also be found at www.gohsep.la.gov. FEMA is also on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA.

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Six Months of Progress After Hurricane Isaac: Moving from “Survive” to “Thrive” in Louisiana

Deadline Extended a Fourth Time for Isaac-Related Flood Insurance Claims in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana property owners with flood insurance policies whose homes or other structures were damaged during Hurricane Isaac have an additional 60 days to file claims for their flood-related losses. This means most policyholders have until April 22 to complete their proof of loss claims.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) usually requires claims to be reported within 60 days from the date of loss. Four extensions have been granted.

With the latest 60-day extension on flood insurance claims, Louisianians have 240 days from the date of their insured losses to submit a claim, known as Proof of Loss. Hurricane Isaac first made landfall in Louisiana on Aug. 28, 2012, with heavy rainfall and flooding occurring within several days before and after it hit. For this reason the date of loss varies for property owners.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administers the program.

“A major storm like Isaac can make it difficult for survivors to gather information that will help adjusters determine their flood insurance loss,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar of FEMA. “This extension eases the burden on folks who haven’t yet filed their proof of loss, and we continue to urge them to do so as soon as possible.”

Failure to submit the proof of loss could cause policyholders to miss out on benefits from their flood insurance policy, NFIP specialists said.

Policyholders with questions about flood insurance or concerns about their claims may contact their local insurance agent, call FEMA program experts at 1-866-331-1679 or 1-866-330-7286, or visit www.floodsmart.gov.

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Deadline Extended a Fourth Time for Isaac-Related Flood Insurance Claims in Louisiana

FEMA Archaeologists Discover One of the Oldest Native American Artifacts South of Lake Pontchartrain

NEW ORLEANS – Pottery sherds, animal bones and pieces of clay tobacco pipes are among the items recently discovered by a team of archaeologists under contract to the Federal Emergency Management Agency surveying land near Bayou St. John in New Orleans.

“It was a bit of a surprise to find this,” said FEMA Louisiana Recovery Office Deputy Director of Programs Andre Cadogan, referencing a small, broken pottery fragment. “We clearly discovered pottery from the late Marksville period, which dates to 300-400 A.D. The pottery was nice, easily dateable, and much earlier than we expected. This is exciting news for historians and Tribal communities as it represents some of the only intact prehistoric remains of its kind south of Lake Pontchartrain.”

The Bayou St. John spot holds a prominence in New Orleans’ history, throughout the years serving as the location of a Native American occupation, a French fort, a Spanish fort, an American fort, a resort hotel and then an amusement park. Through a series of shovel tests and methodological excavation, the archaeologists discovered evidence of the early Native Americans, the colonial period and the hotel.

“The historical record tells us that the shell midden (or mound) created by the Native American occupation was destroyed by the French when they built their fort here,” said Cadogan. “However, we’ve discovered, through archaeology, that rather than destroy the midden, the French cut off the top of it and used it as a foundation for their fort.”

FEMA’s work near Bayou St. John is part of an agreement with the State Historic Preservation Office, Indian Tribes and the state to perform archaeological surveys of parks and public land in the city of New Orleans. It falls under FEMA’s Environmental and Historic Preservation program, which evaluates historical and environmental concerns that may arise from projects funded by federal dollars.

FEMA hazard mitigation funding was used for thousands of home elevations and reconstructions throughout Louisiana. Rather than evaluate every property for archaeological remains—a nearly impossible task—FEMA, the State Historic Preservation Office and various consulting parties signed an agreement, which allowed FEMA to conduct alternate studies such as the archaeological surveys.

“The surveys not only offset potential destruction of archaeological resources on private property from the home mitigations but also give us a leg up on any future storms. We are helping the state of Louisiana learn about its history as well as provide information that leads to preparedness for the next event,” said Cadogan.

FEMA, in coordination with the State Historic Preservation Office and Indian Tribes, identified the areas to be surveyed. Once the field studies are completed and all of the artifacts are analyzed and recorded, the State Historic Preservation Office will become stewards of the information.

The Louisiana State-Specific Programmatic Agreement can be found at www.fema.gov/pdf/hazard/hurricane/2005katrina/LA_HMGP%20PA.pdf.

Editors: For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/latro.

Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/femalro, blog.fema.gov, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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.

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FEMA Archaeologists Discover One of the Oldest Native American Artifacts South of Lake Pontchartrain

FEMA Awards Nearly $1.3 Million to Plaquemines Parish to Repair Levee Road Damaged by Hurricane Isaac

BATON ROUGE, La. – Plaquemines Parish will receive a nearly $1.3 million federal grant to reimburse the cost of repairing a roadway damaged by Hurricane Isaac, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said Monday.

Between Aug. 26 and Sept. 10, Hurricane Isaac produced high winds, rain and flooding throughout the state, hitting Plaquemines Parish particularly hard. The elevated roadway on the parish’s secondary levee required repairs after the water receded, and the FEMA Public Assistance grant, totaling $1,280,209, helps reimburse those repair costs.

“Severe, slow-moving storms like Hurricane Isaac not only can cause tremendous damage to people’s homes and businesses, they can affect the infrastructure people depend on every day,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar of FEMA. “Reimbursing the repair of the levee road puts the parish one step closer to normalcy after Hurricane Isaac.”

The newly awarded funds are a portion of the $195.5 million in total Public Assistance recovery dollars approved for the state since the Aug. 29, 2012, disaster declaration.

Once FEMA reimburses the state of Louisiana it is the state’s responsibility to manage the funds, which includes making disbursements to local jurisdictions and organizations that incurred costs.

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.

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FEMA Awards Nearly $1.3 Million to Plaquemines Parish to Repair Levee Road Damaged by Hurricane Isaac

FEMA Awards Nearly $3.2 Million to East Baton Rouge for Hurricane Isaac Recovery

BATON ROUGE, La. – East Baton Rouge Parish will receive a nearly $3.2 million federal grant to reimburse the parish for removing and disposing of debris resulting from Hurricane Isaac, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said Friday.

The FEMA Public Assistance grant, totaling $3,189,504, will help the parish pay for removing more than 355,800 cubic yards of debris from three public rights of way. A cubic yard of debris is about the size of a residential washing machine.

“Removing debris after a storm protects public health and safety,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar. “These funds support East Baton Rouge’s efforts to eliminate hazardous debris and help return the parish to normal.”

The grant covers the federal share of the parish’s eligible costs for the work. Under a cost-sharing formula, FEMA reimburses the state for 75 percent of the total costs, while the state and/or applicant pay the remaining 25 percent.

The newly awarded funds are a portion of the $195.5 million in total Public Assistance recovery dollars approved for the state since the Aug. 29, 2012, disaster declaration.

Once FEMA reimburses the state of Louisiana it is the state’s responsibility to manage the funds, which includes making disbursements to local jurisdictions and organizations that incurred costs.

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FEMA Awards Nearly $3.2 Million to East Baton Rouge for Hurricane Isaac Recovery

Deadline Extended a Third Time for Isaac-Related Flood Insurance Claims in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana property owners with flood insurance policies whose homes or other structures were damaged during Hurricane Isaac have an additional 30 days to file claims for their flood-related losses. This means most policyholders have until Feb. 21 to complete their proof of loss.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) usually requires claims to be reported within 60 days from the date of loss. Three extensions have been granted, however, because access to NFIP-insured homes and other buildings was delayed due to infrastructure damage and high floodwaters. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administers the program.

With the latest 30-day extension on flood insurance claims, Louisianians have 180 days from the date of their insured loss to submit a claim, known as proof of loss. Hurricane Isaac first made landfall in Louisiana on Aug. 28, 2012, with heavy rainfall and flooding occurring within several days before and after it hit. For this reason the date of loss varies for property owners.

“Many Isaac survivors continue to gather information that will help adjusters determine their flood insurance loss,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar of FEMA. “However, we urge folks who haven’t yet filed their proof of loss to do so as soon as possible.”

Failure to submit the proof of loss could cause policyholders to miss out on benefits from their flood insurance policy, NFIP specialists said.

Since Isaac made landfall, the NFIP has paid out more than $416 million on 13,159 claims in Louisiana.

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Deadline Extended a Third Time for Isaac-Related Flood Insurance Claims in Louisiana

FEMA Obligates $1.5 Million to Baton Rouge for Hurricane Isaac Recovery

BATON ROUGE, La. – Baton Rouge will receive a $1.5 million federal grant to help the city recover from Hurricane Isaac, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said Wednesday.

The FEMA Public Assistance grant, totaling $1,529,871, helps reimburse the city for equipment and supplies used during the Hurricane Isaac response and recovery. Several departments were involved in the effort, including the airport, police, fire, emergency medical services, public works and the Mayor’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness.

“The work of local governments is crucial when disaster strikes,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar. “These FEMA funds help support Baton Rouge’s efforts that protected the health and safety of citizens and city personnel during Hurricane Isaac.”

The newly obligated funds are a portion of the nearly $175.7 million in total Public Assistance recovery dollars approved for the state since the Aug. 29, 2012, disaster declaration.

Once FEMA reimburses the state of Louisiana it is the state’s responsibility to manage the funds, which includes making disbursements to local jurisdictions and organizations that incurred costs.

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FEMA Obligates $1.5 Million to Baton Rouge for Hurricane Isaac Recovery

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