From the Galveston County Daily News

LEAGUE CITY — County commissioners have approved a plan to help those who do not have the resources to clear Hurricane Ike debris from their property.

The private property debris removal program requires the property owner to declare why he or she is unable to move debris to the right of way.

Also, the debris must present a community health or safety risk.

Before a county contractor can pick up the first piece of drywall, the property owner must fill out paperwork proving ownership and sign a release form.

When the owner cannot be found, the county will implement a nuisance-abatement program to begin the cleanup. In some cases, the county may impose a lien on the property.

The plan covers only the unincorporated portions of the county, such as Bolivar Peninsula, San Leon, Bacliff and Freddiesville.

The plan was approved so the county could receive reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the cost of removing the debris. Property owners seeking help can call a toll free line or register online through the county’s Web site.

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For More Info

Private property debris removal program

Call: 800-679-2325

Online: co.galveston.tx.us/

From the Towntalk.com

The Small Business Administration has extended application filing deadlines for residents and business owners who live in Hurricane Gustav and Ike-declared disaster areas.

The deadline for filing for physical damage is Dec. 3 and for economic injury is June 2, according to a press release from the SBA.

The SBA says residents who rent or own their own home, own a business or a small agricultural cooperative can apply for financial assistance if located in a declared disaster area.

There are several types of loans available through the SBA to help in the recovery effort.

For information, contact SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Information is available online at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

A Disaster Recovery Center remains open in Alexandria to assist residents.

It is located at the Bolton Avenue Community Center, and federal officials have said the facility will remain open as long as it is needed.

BRIDGE CITY, Tex. — After Hurricane Ike flooded her house, Terri Reeves could not wait for the federal government to provide her with housing, so she spent all her savings — about $8,000 — on a camper to live in on her front lawn.

Now, she has watched wistfully as the Federal Emergency Management Agency has installed several mobile homes on her block for other people with flood-damaged homes.

“They keep telling me one day I’m on the list, and the next day I’m not on the list,” Ms. Reeves said, holding her Yorkie, Rufus, in the gutted ruins of her house. “They give you the runaround.”

Since the storm hit on Sept. 13, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has installed about 1,000 mobile homes in some of the hardest-hit areas, almost all alongside ruined homes. Another 400 have been delivered but are not ready to be occupied, either because they lack utilities or have not been inspected. But at least 1,500 families are still waiting for units to arrive, agency officials said.

Read the rest of the New York Times article

From ABC 13- Houston

It has been over two months since Hurricane Ike made landfall on the Galveston coast and left a path of destruction in its wake as it moved north through Houston. Many victims of Hurricane Ike are still trying to put their lives back together, but are having problems getting the money they need to make the necessary repairs to their homes from their insurance company.

Undervalued and denied insurance claims are not new problems. In many cases these disputes are not easily resolved and a policyholder may need to seek aid from resources available outside of their insurance company. Policyholders may choose to enlist the services of a public adjuster or an attorney to assist them in recovering the money that they are entitled to from their insurance provider.

Read more here.

From AP/Houston Chronicle

GALVESTON, Texas — A Hurricane Ike-damaged library wants to share stories of Galveston residents who rode out the storm on the island and those who fled.

The Rosenberg Library is seeking personal accounts of the hurricane, which hit Galveston on Sept. 13, as part of its historical project “Memories of Ike.”

The library, on its Web site, says recording Hurricane Ike from the viewpoint of the everyday citizen offers a chance to understand the disaster from the “ground up.”

The Rosenberg Library also welcomes personal accounts of those who evacuated, with the written information eventually being made available to researchers and authors.

The library itself is an Ike survival story, after the storm surge swamped the first floor and destroyed some building internal systems.

Go to http://rosenberg-library.org

From redOrbit.com

Experts say the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season may be best remembered as one of the worst in Cuba’s history.

Hurricanes Gustav, Ike and Paloma caused an estimated $10 billion damage in Cuba, where they damaged nearly half a million homes and flattened sugar cane and tobacco fields.

As hurricane season nears its end on November 30, 16 cyclones have formed — eight tropical storms and eight hurricanes — making it the busiest Atlantic season since the record-breaker of 2005, which produced 28.

However, chances for another storm are ebbing. Three years ago, Tropical Storm Zeta formed on December 30 and lasted into January.

AccuWeather forecaster Joe Bastardi said the hurricane season is over for the United States, “but you might get something developing in the middle of nowhere.”

Meteorologists say the average hurricane season produces about 10 storms, of which six become hurricanes. But 2008 will go down in the record books as another in a string of exceptionally busy seasons.

Researchers believe that in 1995 the Atlantic basin entered a new cycle of prolific hurricane production that could last anywhere from 25 to 40 years. Continue reading »

The Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) is offering mini-grants to approximately 20 families in the greater New Orleans area that are experiencing financial difficulties related to the Hurricane Gustav evacuation and that are facing eviction.  Families making up to 60% of area media income and facing eviction may receive up to $250 in order to prevent an eviction and should call (504) 596-2100 or email rwaxman@gnofairhousing.org for more details about eligibility and the application process.  Applicants will have to provide proof of income in order to receive assistance.  Qualified applicants will be subject to a lottery.  All applications must be received by Friday, November 14th, 2008.

This funding is generously provided by the Gulf Coast Fund.

Download the application here

From houmatoday.com

From the Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) — A top official of the Federal Emergency Management Agency admits that the agency was sluggish in its response to Texans affected by Hurricane Ike’s devastation, according to a published report.

Deputy FEMA Administrator Harvey E. Johnson Jr. said he intends to improve the help that the agency provides to Texans whose home were damaged or destroyed by the September hurricane. He said FEMA will deploy mobile homes to the hardest-hit areas more rapidly, review rules that might be causing premature denials of assistance and provide more resources to Texas.

He said Friday he has put more personnel into Texas housing assistance programs. He invited energy company officials into FEMA’s Texas field offices to help provide electric power to mobile homes housing storm victims, and he has started a review of procedures that result in relatively few families being approved for assistance when they first apply.

Ike came ashore near Galveston on Sept. 13, causing at least $11 billion in damage to Texas.

Johnson met this past week with local officials in Galveston, the Beaumont-Port Arthur area and Houston.

“I think that I agree with the elected officials I met with,” Johnson told the Houston Chronicle. “They all have called and expressed the concern that FEMA is moving too slowly. Within FEMA, there is a renewed sense of energy to redouble or triple our efforts, that we need to box some ears.”

Officials in Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange say they need thousands of temporary homes, particularly for refinery and chemical plant workers who toil in industries crucial to the local economy.

Johnson said FEMA’s assessment shows that 2,800 to 5,100 mobile homes are needed in Texas.

From earth2tech.com

The debris from Hurricane Ike, a depleted oil field and some biomass power expertise could soon start delivering clean power to the city of Houston, which is still recovering from the third-most destructive hurricane to hit the U.S. Biofuels Power Corp. signed an agreement today to create a biomass plant that will use wood chips and debris from the ongoing Hurricane Ike cleanup to produce 4 megawatts of clean energy and then sequester the carbon emissions in a depleted oil field.

Under the terms of the agreement, six acres of land will be leased from DSMC of Humble, Texas, a waste wood storage facility operator which has been the primary collector of debris for the City of Houston’s Hurricane Ike cleanup effort, and which will also supply the fodder for the plant. The land includes a number of abandoned oil wells that will be retrofitted for exhaust gas sequestration by Texoga Technologies Corp.  The end result will be a pilot-scale power plant that burns the city’s waste debris to produce power while safely storing the emissions underground. “We don’t expect our carbon sequestration activities to result in significant oil production, but surprising things can happen in old oil fields,” Fred O’Connor, president and CEO of Biofuels Power, said in a statement.

Biofuels Power will manage the project and contribute a 2.5-megawatt steam turbine, a 1.5-megawatt diesel electric generator and transformer and grid interconnect equipment. Based in The Woodlands, Texas, Biofuels Power currently operates two grid-connected biodiesel-powered plants and a biodiesel refinery.

From the Advertiser

The Family Tree is continuing its long-term recovery counseling program for those affected by hurricanes Gustav and Ike thanks to funding from United Way of Acadiana. Individuals and families in a parish affected by either of these hurricanes are eligible to receive up to three free counseling sessions in Lafayette, Abbeville, or New Iberia. After three free sessions, fees are based on household income. Clients typically seek counseling for adjustment, family issues, behavior problems in children, divorce or increased stress after a natural disaster. Counseling at The Family Tree is done by master’s-level clinicians and is available for children ages 4 and up, adults, couples, and families. For more information, call 337-237-2160 or visit www.thefamilytree.ws.

** Remember, Gustav-affected residents may also be eligible for DHAP-IKE.  Read more here.**

Read the FEMA press release

AUSTIN, Texas — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is only days away from launching a new temporary housing assistance program to help Texans displaced by Hurricane Ike. In anticipation of the program’s November 1 start date, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has given HUD the names of more than 6,500 Texans who may qualify for direct rental assistance until March 2010.

The Texans have been identified by FEMA as eligible for HUD’s Disaster Housing Assistance Program-Ike (DHAP-Ike). The program will provide housing assistance and case management for homeowners and renters whose homes suffered significant damage as a result of the hurricane. Other Texans who believe their homes will be uninhabitable during the 17-month program should register with FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) by Nov. 12, 2008. Continue reading »

From the Galveston County Daily News

Only two weeks remain for Galveston County homeowners, renters and business owners whose property suffered damage during Hurricane Ike to apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

State and federal officials are urging anyone who still needs to register to do so before the Nov. 12 deadline.

The U.S. Small Business Administration also has a deadline of Nov. 12 for its low-interest disaster loans.

FEMA’s disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repair and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other sources. Continue reading »

Read the FEMA press release from 10-28

LONG BEACH, Miss. — Mississippians, who suffered damages or losses from Hurricane Gustav and who are not eligible for a disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), may be referred to FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program to help with disaster-related expenses. These funds help residents of Adams, Hancock, Harrison, Washington and Wilkinson counties with disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other federal programs.

Some of the expenses that may qualify for disaster aid are:

• Medical and dental costs;
• Funeral expenses;
• Repair or replacement of personal property such as clothing, room furnishings, appliances, and necessary educational materials like computers, school books, and supplies;
• Repair or replacement of specialized tools, protective clothing and equipment required for work;
• Repairing or replacing vehicles damaged by the disaster, or for other transportation costs; and
• Moving and storage expenses.

FEMA and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency have approved more than $768,000 for this type of aid under FEMA’s ONA program.

Officials are urging homeowners, renters and businesses who received SBA disaster loan applications to complete and return them before the November 25 deadline. Anyone needing assistance or having questions about the SBA loan applications can call the SBA Customer Service at 1-800-659-2955. Homeowners and renters who are not approved for an SBA disaster loan are referred back to FEMA for any possible grant assistance.

Homeowners, renters, and business owners, who have storm losses from Hurricane Gustav, have until Nov. 25, 2008, to apply for assistance. To apply, simply call, toll-free, FEMA’s registration line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Individuals with hearing- or speech-impairments should call TTY 1-800-462-7585. The lines are available 24 hours, everyday. Applicants also can register online at www.fema.gov.

FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

From the Associated Press 10-28

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. humanitarian chief appealed to donor countries Monday for more than $60 million to help Haiti recover from storms that killed hundreds of people and heavily damaged the Caribbean nation’s agricultural base.

John Holmes said donors have contributed or pledged about 40 percent of the $107 million the U.N. is seeking to help Haiti over the next six months, but that is nowhere near enough to deal with the aftermath of the storms.

Haiti was ravaged by four storms — Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike — in less than four weeks during August and September. Nearly 800 people were killed and much of the country’s agriculture was destroyed, leaving many people hungry. World Bank officials estimate that total damage surpassed $1 billion. Continue reading »

In Louisiana: Visit the Louisiana State Bar Association at http://www.lsba.org/dr/index.asp

In Texas: Visit http://www.TexasLawHelp.org

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct 28, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Responding to the broad range of legal problems resulting from Hurricane Ike, Texas legal aid organizations and the Houston Bar Association have developed an online resource to assist Texans affected by the disaster in obtaining free legal information. The new service, called LiveHelp, is available now and enables Hurricane Ike victims to conduct a live online chat with attorneys recruited by the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program. Attorneys will answer questions and also refer those seeking help to legal resources specific to FEMA appeals and other disaster-related issues

From the Associated Press, 10/28

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas officials accused the Federal Emergency Management Agency of slow response and insensitivity on Monday, saying the agency has failed to provide timely help to town officials and Hurricane Ike victims who need temporary housing and money.

“It’s a tragedy, what’s going on down there,” Jack Colley, the state’s director of emergency management, told the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee during a hearing on hurricane recovery.

Colley suggested that FEMA should be removed from the federal Department of Homeland Security and placed under presidential oversight.

“They have been extremely insensitive, in our opinion, to the concept that somebody cannot drive 100 miles a day to keep their job,” said Kevin Hamby, general counsel of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. “They don’t seem to care much if we lose these communities down there.” Continue reading »

From AP & the Houston Chronicle

GALVESTON, Texas — A tent city on Galveston that was home to as many as 800 displaced Hurricane Ike residents has closed.

A new shelter complex, also using tents, was operating Monday near Scholes International Airport and run by Baptist Child and Family Services.

The organization, under contract from the state, is helping care for more than 350 people who relocated Sunday from the previous Red Cross facility.

The first tent city complex, at an old elementary school, opened shortly after Ike slammed Galveston on Sept. 13.

Red Cross disaster administrator Carlos Garcia-Velez says the closure marked the group’s end of emergency operations and transition to recovery efforts.

From ReliefWeb (read more)

The United Nations Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, John Holmes, today completed a two-day visit to Haiti. The main purpose of his visit was to review progress in addressing the overall humanitarian situation in the country, as well as in responding to the needs arising from the hurricanes and tropical storms that recently struck Haiti; and finally to appeal for more and faster assistance. Discussions on disaster preparedness are also top on the agenda of his visit.

On 23 October, Mr. Holmes met with the country’s leaders including the Prime Minister Michele Pierre-Louis, representatives of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), of UN agencies and of non-governmental organisations working in Haiti. Today 24 October, Mr. Holmes visited the city of Gonaives, one of the areas worst affected by the storms. The visit concluded with a meeting with President Rene Preval. Continue reading »

From the Brenham Banner-Press

Washington County (TX) farms and ranches are eligible for emergency loans for losses caused by Hurricane Ike, the Farm Service Agency has announced.

Washington County was one of 15 Texas counties recently named by President Bush as eligible for loans to cover part of production and/or physical losses caused by Ike between Sept. 7 and Oct. 3.

Tim Respondek, farm loan manager with FSA’s Bellville office, said agriculture operators may be eligible for loans of up to 100 percent of their actual losses, or an operating loan needed to continue in the agricultural business, whichever is less.

For farmers who can’t get credit from private commercial lenders, the interest rate will be 3.75 percent. Continue reading »

Visit the FEMA National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System (NEFRLS)

Have you been displaced by a disaster?
Do you need to locate friends or family displaced by a disaster?
If you can answer yes to one of these questions, choose one of the options below.

Go to the NEFRLS site

From the Monroe News-Star

Because of extensive damages caused by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, and with the recent addition of 10 parishes to the disaster deceleration, FEMA has informed Louisiana Recovery Authority officials that a 30-day extension of time for the registration period has been granted.

This will allow Louisiana residents to register for federal assistance to individuals and households affected by Hurricane Gustav.

James W. Star, director of the Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office of FEMA, informed said all applicants will be able to register until Dec. 3.

From the Houston Chronicle

GALVESTON — The release of $70 million for Texas hurricane repairs announced Thursday by U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters was tempered by the knowledge that the money can be used only for completed projects.

Peters said the cash would be available immediately for repairs in areas hit by Hurricane Ike, but the Texas Department of Transportation said the money was restricted to repayment.

“These funds will be available immediately so that the city can get roads repaired, the traffic signals working again, and the ferry reopened,” Peters said.

Galveston City Manager Steve LeBlanc said the city hoped to use its share to help repair traffic signals, roads, improve the bus system and rebuild the trolley system.

But the trolley system and many of Galveston’s signal lights will not qualify because the money can be used only on roads designated as federal aid highways, TxDOT spokesman Chris Lippincott said.

A U.S. Transportation Department spokesman acknowledged that the money would be used for reimbursement.

From thetowntalk.com

BATON ROUGE – Ten additional parishes have been made eligible for federal disaster assistance as a result of Hurricane Gustav.

People whose jobs have been lost or interrupted because of the disaster in Concordia, East Carroll, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Union, West Carroll and Winn parishes are eligible to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), the Louisiana Workforce Commission has announced.

People eligible in these 10 parishes must file DUA applications within 30 days of this announcement. The deadline to file is Nov. 17, 2008.

Applications submitted later may be denied.

DUA is available to individuals for weeks of unemployment beginning Sept. 7, 2008, through March 7, 2009, as long as the claimant’s unemployment continues to be a result of Hurricane Gustav. DUA benefits will not be paid for any period of unemployment before or after these dates.

The best way to file new claims or check the status of existing claims is through the Commission’s Web site at www.laworks.net. Continue reading »

From the Institute for Southern Studies

Since Hurricane Ike crashed into the Texas coast last month, residents of hard-hit areas have encountered problems finding a place to stay while the region recovers — and government at all levels has failed to provide adequate help for the displaced.

In Galveston, where three-quarters of all homes were damaged in the storm and many public housing units were rendered unlivable, local officials have requested 500 trailers from the federal government, but the city still hasn’t found a place to put them. Meanwhile, members of the local apartment association complain that the city has been slow in providing needed permits that would allow them to accept tenants. Things have not been moving much faster at the national level, with state and county officials describing the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s temporary housing efforts as a “bureaucratic logjam.”

“FEMA keeps telling us that they’ve got a process to deploy temporary housing,” Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs Director Michael Gerber told the Houston Chronicle. “But in four weeks, they’ve deployed fewer than a hundred that are occupied.” Continue reading »

From the Galveston County Daily News

LEAGUE CITY — As much as we try to shield and protect them, our children and students internalize our stress and strain and the fearful energy of Hurricane Ike’s experience.

Concerned about their trauma, I brainstormed how to help them make some sense of their experiences and unload their fears.

These ideas are based only on what I’ve learned from being an educator for 36 years, a parent, a childhood survivor of hurricane memories and an avid collector of ways to help children grow and learn.

Most children just crave normalcy, but be sensitive to unusual behaviors that are not characteristic of your child.

You might see nightmares or sleeping problems — too much or too little — anger, short tempers, unexplained crying, acting out, giddiness, clinginess or separation anxiety.

Be prepared for meltdowns over even little, unrelated things. Children need to unload their perceptions without adults hovering or making it obvious.

Use your best judgment as you read these ideas. They are not officially endorsed by any psychologist or therapist and some are not appropriate for all ages. Continue reading »

From the Houston Chronicle

Thursday is the last day to sign up for free roof covers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Information and applications are available at 13 locations.

Your roof must have less than 50 percent structural damage, and the house must be habitable.

Applicants must have a photo ID, proof of residency and know what type of roof they have.

The locations are:

• 601 54th, Galveston
• 13805 Stewart, Galveston
• 2000 Texas, Texas City
• 14657 Sneider, Building 1383, Ellington Air Field
• 6101 San Jacinto Mall, Baytown
• 6810 Gulf Freeway, Houston
• 19580 Texas 249, Houston
• 11315 Spencer Highway, La Porte
• Pasadena Town Square Mall, Pasadena
• 311 Pennsylvania, Webster
• 4120 Dowlen, Beaumont
• 655 Lavaca, Beaumont
• 3401 Cultural Center, Port Arthur

For more information, call 888-766-3258 or see www.swf.usace.army.mil and click on “right of entry.”

October 18
From thetowntalk.com

Gov. Bobby Jindal has announced that FEMA has approved additional parishes - including two in Central Louisiana — that were impacted by Hurricane Gustav as eligible for individual assistance to families and households.

The two Cenla parishes added to the list for the Individual Assistance (IA) Program for residents impacted by Gustav are Concordia and Winn.

Individuals who have incurred damages as a result of the storm should register with FEMA by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or online at www.fema.gov.

“GALVESTON — For 27 years, Sarah Horn anchored her life at Oleander Homes, a hulking public housing project that dominates several city blocks on the island’s east end with its stark, low-slung buildings and fenced-off courtyards.

She knew its pulse and patterns, which neighbors to trust, which city buses to board. Even when she went blind in February, she lived on her own, her means modest but her determination to be independent strong.

Hurricane Ike forced her out, along with hundreds of other people like her.

‘I can’t even see what I have lost,’ the 51-year-old said last week from her sister’s wind-damaged apartment, where she is staying for now. ‘I just want to go back to something that is familiar.’

About 2,200 Galveston families live in public housing or subsidized apartments, according to the Galveston Housing Authority. Hurricane Ike scattered them to hotels, cramped quarters with family members and the Red Cross tent city on the island.

But with the search for longer-term housing comes a larger question: What part, what place, will Galveston’s poor have in the city’s revival — if any?

The Galveston Housing Authority operates 975 units of public housing spread across four sprawling complexes and two high-rise buildings. There are an additional 1,200 subsidized Section 8 apartments on the island.

The Housing Authority reopened portions of the high-rises last month, but it condemned every unit in the four complexes.” …

Read the rest of the Houston Chronicle article by Roma Khanna

Friday, October 17, 2008

HOUSTON - Some of the nearly 300 Hurricane Ike victims still living in the city’s last Red Cross shelter are worried about where they will live after it closes this week.

Scheduled to cease operations Sunday, the shelter had housed more than 1,000 people at the height of the storm. Officials said it was one of 24 the Red Cross opened in the Greater Houston area.

Ike swept away Sheila Willis’ car and her Crystal Beach home, leaving her stranded. Before Ike blasted ashore near Galveston on Sept. 13, flattening buildings and killing at least 37 people in Texas, a friend gave Willis a ride to evacuate. She said she stayed at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center, where someone stole her purse. Her ID, other important papers and most of her money were inside.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with this government,” said Willis, tears filling her eyes. “Everyone’s giving us the runaround.”

Willis said she has no idea what she will do when the shelter closes but wants to go stay with a friend in Oklahoma City, where she grew up.

Efforts are under way to provide transitional housing for Ike victims once the shelter closes. …

Read the rest of the AP article

Read the HUD press release here, or below.

Families should register by calling toll-free 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that families who were affected by Hurricane Gustav will also be eligible to receive temporary rental payments and case management services. Families displaced by Gustav will be eligible for the Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP), which will also be utilized by thousands of other families impacted by Hurricane Ike. Slated to begin November 1, 2008, DHAP-Ike will help these families find intermediate housing as they rebuild their lives.

“Once again, HUD moved quickly to ensure eligible families affected by Hurricane Gustav would have a roof over their heads as they regain a sense of normalcy in their lives. This program will provide a necessary means to deliver timely, effective assistance as the region rebuilds,” said HUD Secretary Steve Preston.

“This latest announcement is the next step in our commitment to provide assistance to Louisiana’s families,” said Jim Stark, Assistant Administrator for Gulf Coast Recovery. “FEMA is pleased to continue our successful partnership with HUD and offer the Disaster Housing Assistance Program to victims of Hurricane Gustav. This program, modeled after the first implemented for Katrina and Rita victims, is a direct result of our agencies working together to find the best solutions to aide Louisiana citizens recovering from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.”

“Adding Gustav-affected families to this disaster housing program, which features robust case management, is a clear signal that we have not forgotten about the thousands impacted by this storm,” said Robin Keegan, Deputy Directorof the Louisiana Recovery Authority. “Working together with our federal partners at FEMA and HUD, we will continue to identify rental resources in hard-hit parishes and help our families return to safe places to live in their communities.” Continue reading »

WASHINGTON (Thomson Financial) - “The number of individuals filing new claims for unemployment insurance fell as expected as hurricane related claims receded in the latest week. Those individuals continuing to file claims for unemployment rose to a level not seen in over five years, the Labor Department said today.

The number of first-time claims filed in the week ending October 4 fell 20,000 to 478,000, in line with expectations of economists polled by Thomson Reuters IFR Markets.

The Labor Department said that approximately 17,000 claims related to Hurricanes Ike and Gustav were added to this week’s total initial claims figure. That is down from the 45,000 hurricane-related claims seen in the previous week, and the 50,000 claims reported in the week before that.”

Read the Forbes article

Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., urged builders and homeowners to take steps to prevent the spread of Formosan subterranean termites as they rebuild and remodel after hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

“Many homes and businesses were badly damaged by the storms,” Strain said, in a news release.

“We’re advising that you consider options to prevent future infestation from the Formosan subterranean termite,” Strain states.

For tips and more information, read the full article.

Release Date: October 9, 2008
Release Number: 1791-103

Read the FEMA press release

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas residents who were impacted by Hurricane Ike can make use of free legal assistance and counseling.

The Disaster Legal Services hotline is 1-800-504-7030. Through the number, volunteer lawyers can help low-income hurricane victims with legal issues related to the hurricane. Volunteer lawyers can discuss insurance claims, landlord-tenant issues, consumer protection issues and the replacement of wills and other important documents that were lost or destroyed.

Callers should be prepared to discuss particular legal problems caused by the disaster and to provide a current contact phone number. To be eligible for this free legal assistance, they must reside in one of the 29 counties designated for Individual Assistance under the federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Ike. Continue reading »

Release Date: October 13, 2008
Release Number: 1786-068

Go to fema.gov

New Orleans, Louisiana — The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s transitional sheltering initiative for applicants displaced by Hurricane Ike, originally scheduled to end Oct. 14, has been extended.

Applicants who have been determined eligible for FEMA housing assistance under the Individuals and Households Program or have not yet received a FEMA inspection of their damaged home have been extended until Tuesday, Oct. 28. FEMA may authorize extended stays beyond Oct. 28 as needed and will notify those applicants individually.

Applicants who are deemed ineligible for transitional sheltering assistance are being notified that FEMA will no longer pay for their hotel beyond Oct. 28, 2008. These applicants will not be granted a further extension and applicants who choose to remain in hotels the night of Oct. 28 and beyond will do so at their own expense. Applicants who believe they have received their notification in error or who may have other disaster-related questions may call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 or visit www.fema.gov by clicking on “Apply for Assistance” for more information.

The intent of transitional sheltering assistance is to provide shelter alternatives to evacuees who need a place to stay because they are unable to live in their homes due to damage or power outages caused by Hurricane Ike. Transitional sheltering assistance allows eligible individuals or families to stay in a hotel or motel for a limited time and have the cost of the room and taxes paid directly to the hotel by FEMA. Meals, telephone calls and other incidental charges are not covered.

FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

More than 2 million Gulf Coast residents were evacuated from their homes as Hurricane Gustav barreled toward Louisiana and Texas. According to the US Human Rights Network, a coalition of more than 250 human rights groups, in the days following the hurricane, tens of thousands of those residents were subjected to violations of their basic human rights, including disparate and discriminatory treatment; inadequate provision of food, water and shelter; and failure to provide for a safe and timely return.

The Capital Area United Way has awarded $61,710 in new disaster relief to local nonprofit agencies to assist with Hurricane Gustav-related community needs,  a news release says.

That amount plus previous disaster relief money raised by the United Way brings the total to about $500,000 specifically raised to help local communities in the wake of the storm, Capital Area United Way spokeswoman Robin Keller said Wednesday in the news release.

“We are grateful to our contributors who have stepped up to provide relief funds and are proud to support our local non-profit community who continue to provide much needed services, even now in these weeks after the storm,” Capital Area United Way President Karen Profita said in the news release.

The new relief money was awarded to the following groups:

• $15,000 to the Salvation Army of Greater Baton Rouge.
• $10,000 to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.
• $10,000 to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
• $10,000 to Mental Health Association of Greater Baton Rouge.
• $10,000 to United Methodist HOPE Ministries.
• $6,500 to the Community Association Welfare of School Children.
• $210 to Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge.

Read the Baton Rouge Advocate article

From WDSU

NEW ORLEANS — The African American Leadership project hosted a forum Wednesday night for people who have negative stories about their evacuations during Hurricane Gustav.

The goal was to put a report together to present to city leaders with positive solutions to make evacuating easier. The group filled out surveys and talked the issues out.

Most concerns were about how much it costs to leave and return.

The African American Leadership project hopes to have a final report finished within 90 days.

Read the AP article in the Houston Chronicle

BATON ROUGE, La. — The federal government has agreed to cover all the recovery costs in 14 parishes affected by Hurricane Ike through most of October, a move that saves the state and parishes millions.

“This is good news and a positive step forward in the recovery efforts for these parishes,” Gov. Bobby Jindal said in a statement Wednesday.

Traditionally, the Federal Emergency Management Agency pays 75 percent of disaster response costs and states pay the rest. Jindal had asked either Congress or the White House to waive the state’s cost-share, similar to what was done after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Though it came ashore in Texas on Sept. 13, Ike’s powerful storm surge inundated coastal communities from one end of the state to the other. State government’s response to Ike has been estimated to cost at least $127.9 million and rising. It’s unclear how much the parishes have paid in response efforts. Continue reading »

Read the article

FORT SMITH, Ark. — When Hurricane Gustav hit Texas, over 2,000 evacuees fled to the Fort Smith area, most of whom stayed on the Fort Chaffee base. Many city and county agencies in the River Ralley provided financial support to the evacuees. The dollar amount spent is now being calculated by FEMA. A FEMA owill be in town for one month working with each agency individually.

Emergency Management officials estimated the total cost of the evacuee effort to be in the millions and said 100 percent of the money spent will be reimbursed.

“We want this reimbursement process to be as expedient as possible to make sure every agency gets back every dime back they can. This is Sebastian County money. This is Fort Smith money and our local agencies’ money,” said Tonya Roberts of Sebastian County Emergency Management.

TOWN HALL MEETING ON THE GUSTAV EVACUATION
Mtangulizi Sanyika

JOIN US IN A TOWN HALL MEETING ON THE GUSTAV EVACUATION

African American Leadership Project

* WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2008
* 7:00PM TO 9:30PM
* NEW ORLEANS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

TELL YOUR STORIES, SHARE YOUR PROBLEMS AND PROPOSE SOLUTIONS

SOME OF THE COMMENTS PEOPLE HAVE MADE INCLUDE:

1. EVACUATION COSTS TOO MUCH
2. THE SHELTERS WERE A BAD EXPERIENCE
3. IT WAS HARD GETTING OUT
4. IT WAS HARD GETTING BACK IN
5. POWER WAS OUT, WATER WAS UNAVAILABLE
6. TRYING TO GET FOOD STAMPS WAS A MESS
7. FEMA WAS OF NO HELP

The AALP sponsored town hall meeting on the Gustav evacuation will be this Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM in the City Council chambers. This is th