Federal aid to help business, residents in La. affected by Gustav

New Orleans CityBusiness, Sep 3, 2008

The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday said federal disaster aid is available for Louisiana to help people and communities recover from Hurricane Gustav.

The aid was made available Monday.

President Bush authorized the assistance when he called for a major disaster declaration for Louisiana, FEMA Administrator David Paulison said. The federal funding is available to the parishes of Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Sabine, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Vernon, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana.

The assistance, to be coordinated by FEMA, can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other disaster- related expenses. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also will be available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.

Federal funding also is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organization on a cost- sharing basis for the parishes of Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Sabine, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Vernon, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana for debris removal.

Paulison named Michael J. Hall as the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Hall said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and more communities and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are complete.

FEMA said residents and business owners who were affected in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance today by registering online at http://www.fema.gov or by calling (800) 621- 3362) or (800) 462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing- and speech-impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Sundays until further notice.