Scalise Gets Response from FEMA

Mandeville -- Congressman Steve Scalise today received a response from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regarding the inclusion of St. Tammany and Tangipahoa Parishes in the Major Disaster declaration. This amendment pertains only to the FEMA Individual Assistance program.

“St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes have all suffered significant damage from Gustav,” Scalise said. “While I am very pleased that FEMA quickly responded to my request and amended their Major Disaster declaration to include St. Tammany and Tangipahoa, we’re still not finished yet. I will continue to put pressure on FEMA and the White House to include both individual and public assistance for St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes.”

FEMA recently announced that 34 parishes were eligible to receive individual and public disaster assistance. St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes were not included in the declaration. Yesterday Congressman Scalise sent a letter to FEMA Administrator David Paulison and President George W. Bush urging them to include St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes.

Today, Congressman Scalise received a response from FEMA Administrator Paulison that St. Tammany and Tangipahoa Parishes will be included to receive Individual Assistance but not Public Assistance. FEMA has not yet added Washington Parish to their Major Disaster declaration.

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Contact: Luke Bolar
202-226-4309

For Background:

State of Louisiana
Major Disaster Declaration Fact Sheet

September 4, 2008

On September 2, 2008, President Bush issued an Emergency Declaration for the State of Louisiana, triggering the release of Federal funds to help communities recover from Hurricane Gustav which began August 27, 2008, and continuing. Details of this Emergency Declaration and assistance programs are as follows (AMENDMENTS ARE IN BOLD):

NUMBER: FEMA-1786-DR

INCIDENT: Hurricane Gustav

INCIDENT PERIOD: September 1, 2008, and continuing

FEDERAL COORDINATING OFFICER: Michael J. Hall
National FCO Program

DESIGNATIONS AND TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Type of Assistance: Individual Assistance: (Assistance to individuals and households):

Designated Counties: Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Sabine, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Vernon, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana Parishes.

Toll-free Teleregistration number for disaster victims: 1-800-621-3362, TTD 1-800-462-7585.

Type of Assistance: Public Assistance:

Designated Counties: Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Sabine, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Vernon, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana Parishes for debris removal (Category A) under the Public Assistance program.

OTHER: Additional designations may be made at a later date after further evaluation.

If you have any questions or need additional information on this Federal Emergency Declaration, please call the Office of Legislative Affairs at (202) 646-4500, FAX number (202) 646-3600.

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