Disaster Assistance for Avoyelles Parish

[Avoyelles Off-Spring]

Being in Washington, DC, I am very familiar with how the federal government works, and FEMA in particular. Most people don’t know it takes a presidential declaration before FEMA can send assistance and offer repair money! That became available to Cottonport today, while all of you were without power and the Internet.
For your information:
WASHINGTON - SEPT 2
The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for the state of Louisiana to help people and communities recover from the effects of Hurricane Gustav on September 1, 2008, and continuing.
(NOTE: This includes damage AFTER Gustav left!)
FEMA Administrator David Paulison said the assistance was authorized under a major disaster declaration issued for the state by President Bush. The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the parishes of … Avoyelles…
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.
Federal funding also is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organization on a cost-sharing basis for in the parishes of … Avoyelles… for debris removal.
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. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.(local time) Monday through Sunday until further notice.

If you have any questions, please post them here and I will try to provide a full and complete answer! I hope power is restored, drinkable water becomes available, and roads reopened. I pray no tornados touch down (I see the Warning!)
You REALLY got slammed; your taxes pay for help you deserve!

[Avoyelles Off-Spring]

Just to make it easier, here is the link to apply, with information of how it works:

http://www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm

For example, there are two kinds of assistance: "Housing Needs" and "Other Than Housing Needs".

To receive money or help for "Housing Needs" that are the result of a disaster, all of the following must be true:

You have losses in an area that has been declared a disaster by the president.

You have filed for insurance benefits and the damage to your property is not covered by your insurance or your insurance settlement is insufficient to meet your losses.

You or someone who lives with you is a citizen of the United States, a non-citizen national, or a qualified alien.

The home in the disaster area is where you usually live and where you were living at the time of the disaster.

You are not able to live in your home now, you cannot get to your home due to the disaster, or your home requires repairs because of damage from the disaster.

You may not be eligible for "Housing Needs" assistance if:

You have other, adequate rent-free housing that you can use (for example, rental property that is not occupied).

Your home that was damaged is your secondary or vacation residence.

Your expenses resulted only from leaving your home as a precaution and you were able to return to your home immediately after the incident.

You have refused assistance from your insurance provider(s).

Your only losses are business losses (including farm business other than the farmhouse and self-employment) or items not covered by this program.

The damaged home where you live is located in a designated flood hazard area and your community is not participating in the National Flood Insurance Program. In this case, the flood damage to your home would not be covered, but you may qualify for rental assistance or items not covered by flood insurance, such as water wells, septic systems, medical, dental, or funeral expenses.

To receive money for "Other than Housing Needs" that are the result of a disaster, all the following must be true:

You have losses in an area that has been declared a disaster area by the President.

You have filed for insurance benefits and the damage to your property is not covered by your insurance or your insurance settlement is insufficient to meet your losses.

You or someone who lives with you is a citizen of the United States, a non-citizen national, or a qualified alien.

You have necessary expenses or serious needs because of the disaster.

You have accepted assistance from all other sources for which you are eligible, such as insurance proceeds or Small Business Administration disaster loans.

[Avoyelles Off-Spring]

2pm 9/3

Seven water systems in Avoyelles Parish have lost water pressure. These systems are having problems with telephone lines so they asked the LA Dept of Health and Hospitals - Office of Public Health to contact broadcast stations to issue the boil advisory for them. The following water systems want to issue a boil advisory until further notice:
Avoyelles Ward 3 Waterworks District
Brouillette Water System, Inc
Town of Evergreen Water System
City of Marksville Water System
Village of Moreauville Water System
Plaucheville Water System
Town of Simmesport Water System

[Avoyelles Off-Spring]

No to be the only one writing here, but FEMA has announced reimbursement for "extended stays" in hotels when you cannot come back home right away.

Given Ike's potential to hit La., you might pass the word.