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United States Government Response and Recovery to the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

Release Date: 09/14/05 00:00:00

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
September 14, 2005

Federal support to state and local officials and volunteer organizations continues around the clock in an effort to save lives, sustain life, and assist with law enforcement operations in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. The following facts provide an update to some of the important activities and approximate numbers as of 2 p.m. EDT:  

  • Households Funded 465,000
    Type of Payment
    – Direct Deposit – $554.9 million
    – Check – $472.3 million
    – Debit Card – $20.6 million

  • Total Assistance Provided – $1 billion
  •  People housed in shelters – 112,000*
  • MREs provided (meals) – 24.1 million
  • Water provided (liters) – 61.3 million

*The number of people housed in shelters is expected to decrease as people are provided long-term housing.

Department of Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman announced that he approved bids for the sale of 11 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Combined with 12.6 million barrels of crude previously approved for loans, in response to the disruptions caused by Hurricane Katrina, these releases will provide 23.6 million barrels of crude for the U.S. market.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta announced today that Mississippi will immediately receive $5 million in federal emergency relief funding as a down payment on the repair or replacement of damaged roads and bridges throughout the state. Mississippi will receive the funds through the Federal Highway Administration’s emergency relief program to reimburse the state for repairs to US 90, I-10 and other federally funded roads and bridges in the state damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

The Environmental Protection Agency issued an advisory today urging the public to continue to use caution when entering hurricane damaged homes and buildings. Individuals planning to return to their homes or businesses should remain alert for leaking natural gas lines, and carbon monoxide poisoning from using un-vented fuel-burning equipment indoors. EPA is warning people to remove contaminated materials in order to reduce moisture and humidity that can present serious long-term health risks from micro-organisms. For more information visit www.epa.gov.

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This page was last modified on 09/14/05 00:00:00