Louisiana Recovery Office New Orleans, LA FEMA: Week in Review  Calendar  
Dec. 26 - Official Federal Christmas Holiday observed Jan. 2 -Official Federal New Year’s Day Holiday observed Jan. 17-19 -International Disaster Conference and Expo, New Orleans, LA Jan. 26 -Disaster Contractor’s Industry Day, Shreveport, LA Feb. 7-9 - National Evacuation Conference, New Orleans, LA  
December 16, 2011  
Announcements  
FEMA Announces Support for Legislative Change to Allow Tribal Governments to Directly Apply For Federal Disaster Aid Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate announced today the administration’s support for a legislative change to the Stafford Act to permit federally recognized tribal governments to make disaster declaration requests directly to the president. Currently, only states through their governors can request a major disaster or emergency declaration from the president under the Stafford Act. Federally recognized tribes are excluded from making such a direct request for a presidential declaration and are forced to make a request through the state in which they are geographically located. A change to the law would acknowledge the sovereignty of federally recognized tribes and enhance FEMA’s working relationship with tribal governments. Such an amendment, if passed, will enhance the president’s and FEMA’s ability to directly respond to tribal governments’ declaration requests regardless of state or county boundaries or jurisdictions. Such a legislative change to the Stafford Act would allow a tribal government to choose whether to directly request a separate declaration or to receive assistance, as they do presently, under a declaration for a state. Changing the Stafford Act will require congressional action. FEMA looks forward to working with Congress as it considers this important legislative change to the Stafford Act.  

 
Union Parish CERT Drill The Union Parish Mounted Search and Rescue CERT team will host an Emergency Response Training Drill on Feb. 25, 2012 in the Lake D’Arbonne State Park area. Activities will include training sessions and a mock search and rescue drill. Registration is open to anyone with familiarity or training in CERT. Interested individuals should register by Jan. 6, 2012. Please contact Susan Edwards to request a registration form or for more information.  
Two More Louisiana Parishes Enjoy Reduced Flood Insurance Premiums Due to NFIP CRS Participation Congratulations to Terrebonne and Lafayette parishes for achieving classification in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System. As a CRS Class 6 Community, residents, business and residential renters and business owners in the unincorporated areas of Terrebonne Parish will now benefit from a 10 to 20 percent reduction on flood insurance premiums. Similarly, both the city of Lafayette and unincorporated areas of Lafayette Parish achieved classification as CRS Class 8 Communities, resulting in policyholders receiving a 5 to 10 percent discount. CRS is a voluntary program for NFIP-participating communities. For more information on the NFIP’s CRS program and how your community can participate, please visit www.fema.gov/business/nfip/crs.shtm. .  
Housing Update  
Katrina/Rita: 17 units Gustav/Ike: 4 units  
Contacts News Desk: (504) 762-2477 External Affairs Director, Andrea Davis: (504) 247-6628 / Andrea.Davis1@dhs.gov Outreach Lead, Lynette Fontenot: (504) 232-8602 / Lynette.Fontenot@dhs.gov FEMA