The Federal Emergency Management Agency continues to work with the state of Louisiana on long-term hurricane recovery efforts. To date, more than $526 million has been paid out in premiums under the National Flood Insurance Program to policyholders in Southwest Louisiana.

FEMA has issued 161,096 housing assistance checks, totaling over $404.9 million. This assistance assures that those who had homes damaged by the disaster and are eligible for assistance have a safe place to live.

More than $97.1 million has been approved for 53,624 Hurricane Rita applicants for other needs assistance. The program provides assistance for serious, disaster-related needs to impacted individuals and provides financial assistance to individuals and households who have other disaster-related necessary expenses.

For homeowners and renters, the U.S Small Business Administration has approved a total of 6,036 disaster loans, totaling over $364.1 million. These loans provide the funds needed following the disaster to assist individuals in returning their homes and possessions to pre-disaster conditions.

FEMA has completed 262,453 housing inspections. Inspectors check for structural soundness to assure safe occupancy, and the inspections provide the information used to determine an applicant's eligibility for temporary housing and the other needs assistance program. On average, according to FEMA, only 49 percent of those eligible to buy flood insurance nationwide do so.

Special Reports /

FEMA Still Working on Rita Recovery

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