For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 2, 2006
Statement by the Press Secretary
The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of
Louisiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery
efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding beginning on
October 16, 2006, and continuing.
The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected
individuals in the parishes of Caldwell, Franklin, Grant, LaSalle,
Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Richland, Sabine, Vernon and Winn.
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs,
low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to
help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the
disaster.
Federal funding is also available to State and eligible local
governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a
cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of
facilities damaged by the severe storms and flooding in the parishes of
Beauregard, Caldwell, Catahoula, Franklin, Grant, LaSalle, Madison,
Morehouse, Richland, Sabine, Vernon and Winn.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard
mitigation measures for the parishes of Beauregard, Calcasieu, Caldwell,
Catahoula, Franklin, Grant, Jefferson, LaSalle, Madison, Morehouse,
Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Richland, Sabine, Tensas, Vernon, and
Winn.
R. David Paulison, Director, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),
Department of Homeland Security, named Lee Champagne as the Federal
Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected
area.
The Agency said additional designations may be made at a later date if
requested by the State and warranted by the results of further damage
assessments.
The Agency said that residents and business owners who sustained losses
in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by
registering online at http://www.fema.gov or by
calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and
speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8
a.m. to 6 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.
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