Statement by the Press Secretary on Federal Disaster Assistance for Louisiana

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.