FEMA Public Notice
Public notification is hereby given by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) per Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management), of its intent to provide temporary housing and facility assistance, under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121-5206), as amended (Stafford Act); to eligible disaster victims, and local governments and State agencies applicants.  An initial notice was published on September 23, 2005.
On August 29, 2005, the President declared a major disaster for Louisiana (FEMA-1603-DR-LA) due to damages from Hurricane Katrina.  This authorizes FEMA to provide federal assistance through its Individuals and Households, and Public Assistance Programs in designated areas of Louisiana.  A second Presidential disaster declaration was issued in response to damages from Hurricane Rita on September 24, 2005 (FEMA-1607-DR-LA).
This final notice only concerns emergency temporary housing (travel trailers on private lots, in commercial parks, or in group sites) and temporary work facilities (mobile modular units) projects that would be located in the 100-year floodplain (areas that have been determined to have a one percent probability of flooding in any given year) in the following parishes Cameron Parish Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, and Vermillion.  Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management), as implemented at 44 Code of Federal Regulations Part 9, requires FEMA to review its actions in floodplains or affecting the base floodplain elevation for practicable alternatives outside of the floodplain and to minimize future vulnerability from flooding. FEMA has determined that for emergency temporary housing and facility actions located in the aforementioned parishes, there are typically no practicable alternatives to siting such temporary housing and facilities outside the floodplain, because much of the parish area is entirely in the floodplain. Mitigations measures will be incorporated on an action by action basis.
This constitutes final notice and FEMA is accepting comments to its above determination, due to the urgent need for these actions, the public comment period will be brief – October 18 to October 20, 2005.  Written comments can be faxed to FEMA’s Joint Field Office in Baton Rouge at (225) 346-5848; and verbal comments will be accepted at (225) 376-5260 and TTY for hearing or speech-impaired at 800-462-7585; between 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. 

All other questions regarding disaster assistance or the availability of emergency housing should be directed to FEMA’s Teleregistration line at 800-621-3362.