Hurricane Katrina Mississippi Recovery Update: September 2009
Release Date: November 2, 2009
Release Number: 1604-735
» More Information on Mississippi Hurricane Katrina
BILOXI, Miss. -- The following is a summary of Mississippi recovery efforts from Aug. 29, 2005 through Oct. 25, 2009:
As of Oct. 25, 367 temporary housing units are still occupied in Mississippi – an 87 percent decrease from the 2,808 units occupied Jan. 1:
| County | Jan 1. | Sept. 30 | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hancock | 391 | 46 | 88 percent |
| Harrison | 795 | 105 | 87 percent |
| Jackson | 442 | 44 | 90 percent |
| Other | 1,180 | 172 | 85 percent |
| Total | 2,808 | 367 | 87 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. About 1,600 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 temporary housing portion of the program ended Jan. 31. The program is in the process of converting units for permanent use to residents who remain in need. 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 Started in October | Date |
|---|---|
| Pass Christian Historical Society | Oct. 21 |
| Hancock County Government Annex | Oct. 21 |
| Pass Christian Police Station and EOC | Oct. 28 |
| Notable PA-funded Projects Completed in 2009 | Date |
|---|---|
| D’Iberville High School | February |
| Chester M. McPhearson, Jr. Pier | March 21 |
| Lynn Meadows Discovery Center | Apr. 23 |
| Waveland Civic Center | May 8 |
| Hancock County Courthouse | Aug. 8 |
- 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.
- $713 million obligated for land-based debris removal;
- $893 million to repair public utilities;
- $654 million to repair or replace public buildings;
- $409 million for emergency protective measures;
- $98 million to repair roads and bridges;
- $1.1 million to repair water control devices such as ditches and irrigation channels;
- $182 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 significant projects in September and October:
- Hancock County Community Shelters – FEMA obligated a federal share of $4,051,400 to build two community shelters in the northern part of the county. Combined, the facilities will accommodate nearly 550 people during a disaster.
- Jones County Community Shelter – FEMA obligated a federal share of $2.4 million to build a 10,000 square foot shelter in Jones County. It will accommodate 1,000 occupants for up to 36 hours.
- More than $77 million in HMGP grants has been approved for shelters throughout Mississippi. These shelters will provide safe haven for approximately 33,613 residents and first responders, with more to come in the future.
- Across the state, 284 jurisdictions have MEMA/FEMA approved Hazard Mitigation plans.
- Currently, FEMA has approved 281 applications for new Hazard Mitigation projects totaling nearly $185 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: Wednesday, 04-Nov-2009 14:06:31