FEMA, SBA approve more than $300M in Hurricane Gustav, Ike aid

New Orleans CityBusiness, Oct 20, 2008

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration have approved more than $300 million as of Thursday for mission assignments, individual assistance, public assistance and SBA loans to hurricanes Gustav and Ike applicants.

More than $94.6 million has funded mission assignments to other agencies for blue roofs, generators and dead animal removal, while $34.1 million in public assistance funding has been obligated to state agencies for emergency protective measures including search and rescue and other projects.

FEMA has disbursed $109.6 million to individuals eligible for individual assistance for Gustav and nearly $22 million for Ike victims.

Of the 244,867 home inspections issued for Gustav and Ike, 223,779 have been inspected.

The deadline for those displaced by Gustav and Ike to receive assistance from FEMA's transitional sheltering initiative has been extended until Oct. 28, while transitional sheltering assistance has ended for applicants who were deemed ineligible to receive further assistance.

The SBA has approved $40.5 million in loans to 1,290 Louisiana homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofits. For information about SBA programs, call (800) 659-2955.