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Release Date: 09/26/05 00:00:00
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
September 26, 2005
The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in conjunction with other federal agencies, continues to respond to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
President Bush approved major disaster declarations for the states of Texas and Louisiana. The immediate federal priorities are life-saving and life-sustaining operations in support of state and local officials, including distribution of commodities; providing critical communications capabilities; and maintaining hazardous material awareness on re-entry into affected areas. The following actions have been taken:
U.S. Coast Guard units have rescued more than 124 people in Louisiana following Hurricane Rita. Search and rescue operations and damage surveys are continuing.
Since announcing a new housing program on Friday, FEMA has distributed $625 million dollars for transitional housing assistance to 265,000 applicants.
More than 4,000 Coast Guard, 12,000 FEMA, and 2,500 federal law enforcement personnel have been deployed to support Hurricanes Katrina and Rita relief operations.
There are a total of nearly 700 FEMA Urban Search and Rescue personnel on the ground in Louisiana. These teams are supported by Department of Defense (DOD) heavy-lift helicopters, boats and high-water vehicles.
FEMA continues to deploy hundreds of trucks of ice and water to Louisiana and Texas.
There are 1,099 shelters housing 154,252 evacuees of hurricanes Katrina and Rita nationwide.
More than 52,000 Active Duty and National Guard personnel are on the ground or aboard ships supporting relief operations for hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
DOD evacuated more than 3,200 people, including 1,300 medical patients and 1,300 ambulatory/elderly evacuees, from Houston, Beaumont, Texas and Lake Charles, Louisiana to nine locations. DOD’s aviation support in the affected area includes 169 helicopters and 38 fixed wing aircraft.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has assisted Texas in preparing Food Stamp Program waivers that might be needed. The Special Supplemental Nutrition for Women Infants and Children (WIC) Program has been extended to Rita evacuees.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration response teams are in Texas informing workers and employers of ways to avoid injury and illnesses associated with cleanup and recovery efforts.
The Labor Department extended through November 30 the time allowed for persons rendered jobless by hurricane Rita to file for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). The Department also lengthened to 90 days the requirement needed to support an initial DUA application.
Federal support to state and local officials, volunteer organizations and families who have been devastated by Hurricane Katrina continues around the clock in an effort to provide recovery support to those affected by this unprecedented natural disaster. Federal assistance to households will help them get on the road to recovery.
View Chart of FEMA Individual Assistance Registrations and Funds distributed to date (PDF, 1 page - 28 KB)
FEMA Individual Assistance Registrations for Louisiana by Date:
FEMA Individual Assistance Registrations for Mississippi by Date:
FEMA Individual Assistance Registrations for Alabama by Date:
FEMA Individual Assistance Funds Distributed for Louisiana by Date:
FEMA Individual Assistance Funds Distributed for Mississippi by Date:
FEMA Individual Assistance Funds Distributed for Alabama by Date:
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This page was last modified on 09/26/05 00:00:00