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

Disaster Unemployment Assistance to Louisiana Residents Tops $1 Million

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 $1 Million

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

FEMA Local Hires Bring Skills, Insight to Louisiana Recovery

BATON ROUGE, La. – They come from a variety of backgrounds and bring something a little extra to their new jobs with FEMA. Many local hires with the agency have been affected by the August flooding in Louisiana or know someone who has. All take a special interest in the area’s recovery.

FEMA hires local workers for temporary, full-time jobs at disaster recovery offices. A local workforce, employed until the disaster recovery mission ends, helps free FEMA staff to move to the next disaster assignment. Local employees also bring knowledge about the culture, events and politics that define a state or geographical area—insight that helps the recovery mission.

In Baton Rouge, the agency has hired about 70 people from the area and is looking to fill nearly 30 more jobs, including managers, travel specialists, historic preservationists, writers and those in other recovery-related fields.

Among the 70 new staffers are two writers. One pens music and film reviews, appears as a cultural reporter for a Baton Rouge television station and has authored a book about a local musician. The other writer worked on the Hurricane Katrina recovery as a FEMA contractor and was impressed by the agency’s efforts in environmental and historic preservation.

“I worked in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in historic preservation and cultural resources management,” said Harriet Swift. “When I saw devastation from the August flood, I knew I had to help again.”

Bethny Pack-Abel was also driven by her desire to help. “I come from the helping industry—nonprofits and social services. Helping is my passion.” Her home was untouched by the flooding, but she saw entire neighborhoods affected by floodwaters in Tangipahoa Parish.　 Now part of the FEMA team that’s reaching out to businesses, Pack-Abel is eyeing long-term possibilities with federal employment.　

FEMA continues to hire full-time skilled workers for a variety of temporary disaster recovery jobs. The pay is competitive and includes benefits for the duration of the job. For postings, visit the Louisiana Workforce Commission at LaWorks.net.

Baton Rouge Area Residents Join FEMA to Support Flood Recovery Efforts.

Gerald M. Stolar, FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer, welcomed local-hires Marla Williams and Contina Emery. This is the second time that Marla and Contina have worked for FEMA. Local hires are employees hired by FEMA from the local commuting area of a declared disaster. As a member of the community effected by the disaster, this group has the special understanding of the problems faced by their fellow disaster survivors. This insight makes them an integral part of the FEMA team.

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FEMA Local Hires Bring Skills, Insight to Louisiana Recovery

Survivors Can Help Avoid Delays in the Manufactured Housing Unit Process

BATON ROUGE, La. –Louisiana disaster survivors who are eligible for Manufactured Housing Units (MHUs) can help FEMA make the process go as smoothly as possible.

If you’re eligible for an MHU, FEMA will contact you to schedule a site inspection if you want to place a unit on your property. Keep in mind the following steps to avoid slowing the process:                    

  • Be available. You must be present for a site inspection. FEMA will arrange to place an MHU on your property if the agency determines it is feasible. A FEMA representative will provide information during the inspection process so you can contact them if you have questions about the status of your MHU.
  • Contact your power company to install a second service and meter on your property. Your parish or city will then inspect the installation and notify the power company that power may be turned on. Tell the power company it is for a FEMA MHU installation.
  • Help FEMA obtain right-of-entry from your neighbors. FEMA may need permission to trench utility lines or gain access to the site.

If defects are discovered in the air-conditioner, water, lighting, toilets or other parts of the unit, FEMA must repair them before turning over the keys to you. FEMA will also arrange for safety modifications such as elevation and anchoring.

MHUs are a last resort for survivors whose primary home is uninhabitable, have uninsured housing needs, and have no practicable temporary housing options within a reasonable commuting distance.  

FEMA has expanded its services to accommodate your questions about MHUs. Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use TTY, call 800-462-7585. If you use 711 or Video Relay Service, call 800-621-3362. You may also visit their closest disaster recovery center by going online to fema.gov/drc or by calling the FEMA helpline.

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Survivors Can Help Avoid Delays in the Manufactured Housing Unit Process

Louisiana: Request for Public Assistance Deadline Approaches

BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana governments and certain private nonprofits affected by August’s severe storms and floods must submit their Request for Public Assistance (RPA) by Saturday, Oct. 15, for FEMA to consider them for Public Assistance (PA). 

FEMA’s PA program may assist eligible applicants with disaster-related expenses such as debris removal, managing the immediate response, and repairing or rebuilding facilities, buildings, roads and bridges.

City, parish and state government entities in the following parishes are eligible to submit RPAs: Acadia, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Livingston, Pointe 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.

Private nonprofits that provide critical services—such as education, law enforcement, emergency services, healthcare and utilities—may also submit RPAs.

Organizations that provide non-critical, essential services must also apply for a low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in addition to submitting an RPA. FEMA may assist with expenses the SBA loan does not cover.

Governments and private nonprofits that sustained disaster-related costs and want to seek funding must first register at sam.gov to participate. They may find RPA forms online at louisianapa.com/site/resources.cfm.

Contact your parish’s emergency management director for more information. You may also email eRPA.help@la.gov or call 225-376-5330.

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Louisiana: Request for Public Assistance Deadline Approaches

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

Understand the Process for Continued Housing Assistance

BATON ROUGE, La. –If you’re a disaster survivor who wants to extend temporary housing assistance from FEMA it’s important to provide the proper documents in order to make your request.                                

If you’re eligible for an extension, you may use temporary housing assistance to pay for a place to live, such as a house, apartment, hotel or recreational vehicle. The assistance covers rent, security deposit and essential utilities like electricity and water.

To continue receiving temporary housing assistance, you have to complete and submit the following paperwork to FEMA that demonstrates you have a disaster-related and financial need:

  • A completed form FEMA provides you. Contact FEMA if you haven’t received a form.
  • A copy of your lease.
  • Receipts showing proper use of the federal disaster housing assistance you’ve received.
  • Current household income status.
  • Any household financial obligations.

Keep your contact information current so you receive correspondence from FEMA. Update information online at disasterassistance.gov or by downloading and using the FEMA app. You may also call FEMA’s helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use TTY, call 800-462-7585. If you use 711 or Video Relay Service, call 800-621-3362.

The state and FEMA encourage you to develop a permanent housing plan while you’re receiving temporary housing assistance. Free assistance and tools are available to help you find more permanent housing if you’re having difficulty creating a plan. Just call the FEMA helpline or visit a Louisiana Disaster Recovery Center. Locate your closest center by going to fema.gov/drc or by calling the FEMA helpline.

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Understand the Process for Continued Housing Assistance

Disaster Recovery Center in East Feliciana Parish Closing Saturday

BATON ROUGE, La. – The disaster recovery center at the following address is closing at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17:

East Feliciana Parish

Location:  Gym at the Early Learning Center
                  9414 Plank Road (Highway 67)
                  Clinton, LA 70722

With the community continuing to repair and rebuild, its need for this disaster recovery center has diminished, leading to the facility’s closure.

Survivors can still visit any other disaster recovery centers and may locate other centers near them by going online to fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers, calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, or downloading the FEMA mobile app.

For more information or to register with FEMA, go online with any computer, smartphone or tablet to DisasterAssistance.gov, call the FEMA Helpline, or download the FEMA mobile app. Help is available in most languages and the FEMA Helpline is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice.  

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Disaster Recovery Center in East Feliciana Parish Closing Saturday

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