Text 1296, 77 rader
Skriven 2005-08-29 23:36:48 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0508292) for Mon, 2005 Aug 29
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Statement on Federal Disaster Assistance for Louisiana
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 29, 2005

Statement on Federal Disaster Assistance for Louisiana



The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of
Louisiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery
efforts in the area struck by Hurricane Katrina beginning on August 29,
2005, and continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected
individuals in the parishes of Acadia, Ascension, Assumption, Calcasieu,
Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson,
Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines,
Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John,
St. Mary, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion,
Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana. Assistance can include
grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover
uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and
business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding is available to State and eligible local government in the
parishes of Acadia, Ascension, Assumption, Calcasieu, Cameron, East Baton
Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis,
Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St.
Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Mary, St.
Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Washington, West
Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana for debris removal and emergency protective
measures, including direct Federal assistance.

Federal funding also is available to State and eligible local governments
in the parishes of Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo,
Caldwell, Catahoula, Claiborne, Concordia, Desoto, East Carroll,
Evangeline, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse,
Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Landry,
Tensas, Union, Vernon, Webster, West Carroll, and Winn for emergency
protective measures, including direct Federal assistance.

For a period of up to 72 hours, Federal funding is available at 100 percent
of the total eligible costs for emergency protective measures, including
direct Federal assistance. The period of up to 72 hours at 100 percent
excludes debris removal.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard
mitigation measures in St. Mary, St. Tammany and Ouachita Parishes.

Representing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Michael D.
Brown, Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Department
of Homeland Security, named William Lokey as the Federal Coordinating
Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

The Agency said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas and more
counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the
assessments are fully completed in the affected areas.

The Agency said that those who sustained losses in the counties designated
for aid to affected individuals and business owners can begin applying for
assistance tomorrow by registering online at http://www.fema.gov or by
calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and
speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate 24 hours a
day, seven days a week until further notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.

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