President Declares Disaster Areas for Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi

The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that President Bush ordered the release of federal disaster funds and emergency resources for Louisiana and two neighboring states to help meet the recovery needs of people victimized by Hurricane Ivan.

Michael Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, said the President took the action under a major disaster declaration issued for Louisiana in response to the hurricane that made landfall this morning. The declaration covers damage to private property from the storm that began affecting the state on Sept. 13.

“President Bush acted swiftly because he knows that this is a devastating storm and people need help now to recover from it,” Brown said. “The Department of Homeland Security and FEMA are committed to seeing that they get assistance for both their immediate and long-term recovery needs as quickly as possible”

Brown said emergency assistance triggered by the declaration can range from the use of federal personnel, equipment and lifesaving systems to the delivery of heavy-duty generators, plastic sheeting, tents, cots, food, water, medical aid and other essential supplies and materials for sustaining human life.

In addition to emergency aid, Brown said the declaration makes federal funds available for the long-term recovery of hurricane-stricken residents and business owners in the parishes of Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St, Charles, St. Tammany and Terrebonne.

The assistance, to be coordinated by FEMA, can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious 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.

Additionally, Brown said the state and affected local governments in 13 parishes are eligible to apply for federal funds to pay 100 percent of the approved costs for debris removal and emergency services related to the hurricane, including requested emergency work undertaken by the federal government, for a period of up to 72 hours.

The 13 parishes designated eligible for the assistance include Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne and Washington.

Brown said federal funding also will be available a cost-shared basis for approved hazard mitigation projects in the parishes of Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bossier, Caddo, Concordia, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Grant, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Ouachita, Plaquemines, Rapides, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington and West Feliciana.

Brown indicated that aid for residents in other parishes and additional forms of assistance for state and local government agencies may be designated later as conditions allow damage to be assessed in the stricken area. He named Sandra Coachman of FEMA to coordinate the federal relief effort.

President Bush also has ordered the release of federal disaster funds and emergency resources for Mississippi to aid people battered by Ivan.

In addition to emergency aid, Brown said the declaration makes federal funds available for the long-term recovery of hurricane-stricken residents and business owners in the counties of George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Perry, Stone and Wayne.

Additionally, Brown said the state and affected local governments in 23 counties are eligible to apply for federal funds to pay 100 percent of the approved costs for debris removal and emergency services related to the hurricane, including requested emergency work undertaken by the federal government, for a period of up to 72 hours.

The 23 counties designated eligible for the assistance include Clarke, Covington, Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Kemper, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lowndes, Marion, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Pearl River, Perry, Smith, Stone, and Walthall.

Finally, in Alabama, President Bush has ordered the federal government to provide all necessary disaster resources and assets for aid to people devastated by Ivan.

In addition to emergency aid, Brown said the declaration makes federal funds available for the long-term recovery of hurricane-stricken residents and business owners in the counties of Baldwin, Butler, Clarke, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Escambia, Geneva, Mobile, Monroe and Washington.

Additionally, Brown said the state and affected local governments in 32 counties are eligible to apply for federal funds to pay 100 percent of the approved costs for debris removal and emergency services related to the hurricane, including requested emergency work undertaken by the federal government, for a period of up to 72 hours.

The 32 counties designated eligible for the assistance include Autauga, Baldwin, Bibb, Butler, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Coffee, Conecuh, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Dallas, Elmore, Escambia, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Lowndes, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Shelby, Sumter, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, Washington and Wilcox.