Hurricane Katrina Mississippi Recovery Update: July 2009
Release Date: August 6, 2009
Release Number: 1604-728
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Biloxi, Miss. -- The following is a summary of Mississippi recovery efforts from Aug. 29, 2005 through July 30, 2009:
As of July 29, about 529 temporary housing units are still occupied in Mississippi - an 81 percent decrease from the 2,808 units occupied Jan. 1:
| County | Jan. 1 | July 30 | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hancock | 391 | 69 | 82 percent |
| Harrison | 795 | 162 | 79 percent |
| Jackson | 442 | 69 | 84 percent |
| Other | 1,180 | 229 | 81 percent |
| Total | 2,808 | 529 | 81 percent |
- FEMA's temporary housing program ended on May 1, 2009.*
- Since Hurricane Katrina made landfall on Aug. 29, 2005, nearly $1.3 billion in Individuals and Households Program funding was approved for 274,761 individuals and families in Mississippi.
More than 2,800 Mississippi families moved from FEMA temporary housing to Mississippi Cottages. Fewer than 1,800 cottages are currently occupied. The Mississippi Cottages were developed through the Mississippi Alternative Housing Program, which is administered by MEMA and funded by a $280 million federal grant. The program ended January 31. For more information about the program, visit www.mscottage.org.
Since Jan. 1, 2009, many projects funded by FEMA Public Assistance grants have either begun or been completed:
| Notable PA-funded Projects Completed in 2009 | Date |
|---|---|
| D'Iberville High School | February |
| Chester M. McPhearson, Jr. Pier | March |
| Lynn Meadows Discovery Center | Apr. 23 |
| Waveland Civic Center | May 8 |
| Hancock County Courthouse | Planned for Aug. 8 |
| Notable PA-funded Projects Started in 2009 | Date |
|---|---|
| Hattiesburg Fire Station #1 | Feb. 24 |
| Long Beach Water and Sewer Improvements | March 10 |
| Waveland Pier | Apr. 14 |
| Robert J. Curry Public Safety Center | May 4 |
| Gulfport Small Craft Harbor | May 23 |
| West Harrison High School | July 26 |
| Waveland Library | July 31 |
| Waveland Police Station | Aug. 1 |
| Waveland City Hall, Annex and Fire Station | Planned for Aug. 29 |
- FEMA has obligated more than $3 billion in PA funds, which are administered by MEMA. To date, MEMA has disbursed more than $1.79 billion of the $3 billion obligated by FEMA to PA applicants.
- $711 million obligated for land-based debris removal. To date, more than 46 million cubic yards of debris has been removed - that's equal to a football field stacked approximately 4.9 miles high.
- $884 million to repair public utilities;
- $642 million to repair or replace public buildings;
- $401 million for emergency protective measures;
- $96 million to repair roads and bridges;
- $1.1 million to repair water control devices such as ditches and irrigation channels.
- $175 million to repair and restore public recreational facilities such as state parks;
Preparing today for tomorrow's disasters:
- FEMA obligated HMGP funding for the following projects in July:
- Ocean Springs Multi-purpose Center - FEMA has obligated a federal share of $4,080,141 to upgrade the multi-purpose center to FEMA 361 standards;
- Ocean Springs Property Acquisitions - FEMA has obligated a federal share of $543,124 to acquire flood-prone properties in the city;
- Long Beach Senior Citizens/Recreation Center Window and Door Protection - FEMA has obligated a federal share of $167,369 to upgrade the doors and windows of this facility to better protect it during a disaster.
- Many significant HMGP projects have begun or been completed this year. Some of these include:
- Construction began on the Bay St. Louis Fire Station in January. The station is being built to meet FEMA shelter standards through a $2.2 million HMGP grant and will help protect first responders during a disaster.
- D'Iberville High School, which opened its doors to students in February, includes an HMGP-funded community shelter built to FEMA standards to protect approximately 3,000 occupants during a disaster.
- West Harrison High School and St. Martin High School also will include shelters. Mitigation staff members attended ribbon cutting and building dedication ceremonies for West Harrison High School July 26. St. Martin is set to be completed in the near future.
- A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Fontainebleau Community Center June 10. The facility is being built to meet FEMA shelter standards and will provide protection for first responders during a disaster. It is the first of four new FEMA shelters to be built in Jackson County.
- 4,043 individual and community safe rooms and storm shelters have been funded with more than $11 million in mitigation funds.
- Across the state, 284 jurisdictions have MEMA/FEMA approved Hazard Mitigation plans.
- Currently, FEMA has approved 272 applications for new Hazard Mitigation projects totaling nearly $194 million federal share in obligated funding.
- MEMA, as designated by the governor of Mississippi, administers the HMGP. MEMA provides eligible grant applicants with assistance in mitigation planning, project selection, application development and reimbursement.
- The amount of funding available for the HMGP following a disaster is 7.5 percent of the total amount of federal assistance. $293 million in HMGP funds has been allocated for Mississippi as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
*With the end of the housing program on May 1, occupancy numbers are expected to change on a daily basis. For updated housing numbers, please contact the MEMA-FEMA Hurricane Katrina News Desk at (228) 594-3560.
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.
Last Modified: Thursday, 06-Aug-2009 13:35:45