Hurricane Rita

April 21, 2009 -- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced today that $93.6 million for Louisiana public assistance projects have been funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) since her visit to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast on March 5-6. FEMA has obligated a total of $340 million for Louisiana public assistance related to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita projects since January 20.

“We are quickly moving resources to Louisiana to accelerate critical restoration in the areas hit hardest by Katrina and Rita,” said Secretary Napolitano. “I have seen firsthand the continued need for support in the region, and I understand the importance of coordinating with our state and local partners to help these communities rebuild.”    » read more »

February 20, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today the details of a new six-month transition rental assistance program for families currently enrolled in the Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP-Katrina/Rita). HUD and FEMA will provide the additional assistance to families as needed until August 31 to give them more time to transition out of the DHAP program, either to self-sufficiency or other federal or state housing programs, including HUD's Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program.    » read more »

April 1, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement on the House Science and Technology Committee, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight hearing on the failure of the Center for Disease Control to protect Gulf Coast residents from contaminated FEMA trailers in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita:

A FEMA trailer in New Orleans: Photo by Kris Fricke (CC)    » read more »

Wednesday, March 19, 2008, BATON ROUGE, La. -- During the first- and second- rounds of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship, the NCAA, Lowe’s, Habitat for Humanity International and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge will team up to build a home in partnership with a hard-working, low-income family that was displaced by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.

Louisiana State University student-athletes, local community and Lowe’s volunteers will construct a Habitat for Humanity house frame on Saturday, March 22 at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La. The build will take place near the university’s track and field complex.    » read more »

Bureaucratic red tape has delayed first responder reconstruction projects after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

February 26, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today sent the following letter to FEMA Administrator David Paulison, raising concerns about ongoing reconstruction delays, funding disparities, and bureaucratic red tape for first responder resources and projects in New Orleans.    » read more »

Federal, state and local partners working together to expedite rebuilding projects

January 30, 2008, NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the state of Louisiana and the city of New Orleans are pleased to have provided nearly $16.9 million toward the rebuilding and repair of the New Orleans Fire Department. Of that, $3.1 million will go to rebuilding permanent facilities.    » read more »

Despite urgent housing needs, Bush Administration intends to drastically reduce federal housing in New Orleans

December 18, 2007 -- WASHINGON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today sent the following letter to President Bush, calling on him to abandon his Administration’s intentions to demolish federally-assisted housing in New Orleans, Louisiana until there is a comprehensive plan to meet the Gulf Coast region’s extensive affordable housing needs.    » read more »

December 18, 2007 -- "To better distinguish between the responsibilities at all levels, we have instituted a Transparency Initiative that will identify the location of federal infrastructure funds and make this information available in a clear and understandable way to the general public. This is a great tool that will further accelerate rebuilding. The first phase of this initiative will focus on mapping public schools in New Orleans so parents, teachers and local leaders will know the status of individual schools in their community." - Donald E.    » read more »

Dec 07, 2007 -- BATON ROUGE - Today Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco joined members of the Louisiana Recovery Authority to announce that updated budget estimates for the Road Home show the program is fully funded. Based on these projections, the state will not have to seek new funds from Congress to ensure that every eligible homeowner receives their full grant award from the Road Home.    » read more »

FEMA Response to GAO Report on Maintenance and Deactivation of Housing Contracts in Response to Hurricane Katrina And Hurricane Rita

November 15, 2007 -- FEMA response to the Government Accounting Office (GAO) Report on "Maintenance And Deactivation Of Housing Contracts In Response To Hurricane Katrina And Hurricane Rita":

"The GAO report does not reveal new issues from the Katrina response. We are aware of and have drawn lessons learned from these issues. This is another look backwards that tries to project the mistakes made in Katrina onto the FEMA of today. We reject that effort.    » read more »

Nov. 13, 2007 -- WASHINGTON - Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco issued the following statement today while in Washington to thank Congress for its support of the Road Home program. Last week, Congress passed legislation providing $3 billion to Louisiana's recovery housing program. That legislation was signed by President Bush this morning.    » read more »

October 29, 2007, HARVEY, La. -- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds have allowed Jefferson Parish Public School officials to move into temporary facilities that will house the school's administrative functions.    » read more »

October 15, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today a reimbursement program that will provide relocation assistance to disaster victims displaced by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The damage and destruction caused by the hurricanes resulted in many Gulf Coast residents temporarily relocating to various locations around the country. Currently there are Katrina/Rita households in all but one of the states, including 800 in Arkansas, 875 in Tennessee, 880 in Georgia, 225 in Colorado and 160 in California.    » read more »

Oct 15, 2007 -- WASHINGTON - Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco traveled to Washington, DC today for an intense visit on Capitol Hill, urging Members of Congress to provide the $3-$4 billion needed to fully fund the Road Home program. Accompanied by New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, city recovery director Ed Blakely, Louisiana Recovery Authority Chairman Dr. Norman C.    » read more »

Focusing On Training Louisiana's Workforce To Meet Recovery Needs

Sep 24, 2007 -- WESTLAKE AND NEW IBERIA - Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco today joined members of the Louisiana Recovery Authority and the Louisiana Workforce Commission to mark the second anniversary of Hurricane Rita by launching programs in Calcasieu and Iberia Parishes aimed at boosting hurricane recovery by training Louisiana's workforce.    » read more »