Hurricane Rita - Four Years Of Recovery And Federal Aid
Release Date: September 25, 2009
Release Number: 1603-878
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NEW ORLEANS, La. -- On the heels of Hurricane Katrina's landfall came Hurricane Rita on Sept. 24, 2005. As Louisianians reflect upon their rebuilding accomplishments since her devastating blow, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) continue to aid in Louisiana's restoration, supported by nearly $1.2 billion in federal grants.
"The people of Louisiana have endured so much - four hurricanes between 2005 and 2008," said FEMA's Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office Acting Director Tony Russell. "Rebuilding after these devastating storms requires a cooperative effort to get resources to where they're needed the most. FEMA and the Obama Administration are committed to working in partnership with state and local officials to continue to support the people of the Gulf Coast."
While the date August 29 headlines the recent timeline of natural disasters in Louisiana, FEMA understands that communities who have experienced Hurricane Rita know all too well the reality that destruction, no matter its day or name in history, delivers the same devastating experience."
For these communities, FEMA has provided nearly $586.1 million in public assistance grants for projects such as debris removal and emergency protective measures and for permanent work to repair or rebuild public facilities damaged by Hurricane Rita. Of this funding, nearly 50 percent has been provided for recovery work in Cameron, Calcasieu, Vermilion and Iberia parishes, all of which show signs of progress with the return of the storm's fourth anniversary.
"Our agency was created to help every impacted area of the state rebuild safer, smarter and stronger. The funding that the LRA and FEMA have invested in southwest Louisiana has helped communities thrive again by bringing citizens home and returning them to work and school," LRA Executive Director Paul Rainwater said.
While these facilities, along with many others, stand to tell their own accounts of recovery progress, so too can the people of Louisiana who were directly impacted by the storm.
More than 200,000 households have received $523.5 million in funding under FEMA's Individuals and Households Program for their own personal recovery efforts from Hurricane Rita, including $417.7 million in housing assistance for rent, repairs and replacement housing and $105.8 million in other needs assistance for such things as furniture, clothing and replacement vehicles.
FEMA's resolve to help Louisiana residents recover from the effects of Hurricane Rita is shared by many volunteer agencies as well. More than 50 voluntary organizations, including faith-based and non-profit agencies, have played a significant role in Rita response and recovery efforts in southwest Louisiana, especially with vulnerable populations such as the elderly or persons with disabilities.
Overall, more than 5,000 volunteers donated 225,000 hours to help repair and rebuild damaged homes and assist with unmet needs, and agencies were able to leverage over $12 million in financial, volunteer and material resources toward this effort.
In addition, $137.9 million has been set aside under FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which aims to help prevent future losses of lives and properties. Of this funding, $72.4 million has been awarded to date, including $63.6 million in the form of traditional grants such as elevations, acquisitions, pilot reconstructions and retrofitting and $8.8 million in planning grants to assist eligible applicants in setting short and long range mitigation goals and objectives.
When FEMA approves projects through its supplemental Public Assistance grant, the funds are transferred to a federal Smartlink account. Once the funds have reached this account, the applicant can request reimbursement from the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) for eligible work completed. Obligated funds may change over time as the project worksheet is a living grant that is often adjusted as bids come in and scope of work is aligned.
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: Friday, 25-Sep-2009 14:55:37