Disaster recovery

November 16, 2009 -- PAGO PAGO, AS -- Fraud is a rare occurrence during disaster recovery. However, if it does occur, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a responsibility to take action.

People who intentionally try to defraud the government are taking money away from those who truly need assistance. FEMA must ensure that taxpayer dollars go only to people who incurred legitimate losses. This may include prosecuting anyone who makes a fraudulent claim.

Most cases where possible fraud is detected are not deliberate attempts to defraud the federal government. FEMA recommends that applicants receiving grant money keep receipts to show how funds were used.    » read more »

Secures $4 Million for the Fort Madison Bridge and Funding for FEMA and Disaster Mitigation Projects

Washington, Oct 19 - Congressman Loebsack secured critical investments for Iowa in the FY 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. The bill makes critical investments in disaster funding, including funding for FEMA management, disaster relief, and flood map modernization, and disaster relief loans.

The bill also makes critical improvements in securing vital infrastructure such as aviation systems, ports, and surface transit while also including aid for our brave first responders.    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- Washington, DC - Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee and a leading advocate for Gulf Coast recovery efforts, issued the following statement today after President Obama visited New Orleans to assess the city’s progress and heard from residents about the challenges they continue to face:

“More than four years after Hurricane Katrina, I remain concerned about the recovery of the Gulf Coast in general, and the City of New Orleans, in particular. Katrina was one of the deadliest storms in our nation’s history, taking over 1,800 lives, displacing more than one million people, severely damaging over 300,000 housing units, and causing at least $81 billion in damages.    » read more »

Senior Administration Officials Joined President to See Recovery Progress Firsthand

October 15, 2009 --
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On his sixth trip to New Orleans since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, President Barack Obama today visited the Dr. Martin Luther King Charter School and held a town hall event to hear directly from the people of Louisiana. President Obama discussed both the progress made in the region and the challenges that remain. In his first public event in New Orleans, President Obama also spent time answering questions from everyday people.    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Charlie Melancon (LA-03) took part in President Barack Obama’s first visit to Louisiana during his administration. Following the visit, Congressman Melancon made the following statement:

“President Obama’s visit to Louisiana put a national spotlight on the progress we've made and reminded Americans that our recovery is not complete,” said Rep. Melancon. “We are grimly watching our coastal wetlands disappear and desperately-needed hurricane protection projects are still stalled by red tape and lack of funding.

“But today, we were able to get our President, our Governor, our legislators and our neighbors all in one room to talk about how we finish the job. Now it’s time to deliver for Louisiana.”    » read more »

Oct 14, 2009 -- ADDIS – Today, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal awarded five grants totaling $9,792,570 to West Baton Rouge Parish that will go towards hurricane recovery efforts, hazard mitigation and infrastructure improvements. Governor Jindal awarded the funds to local officials in a ceremonial check presentation during an address to the West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce as part of his “Louisiana Working Tour.”

The five grants awarded include a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) totaling $8,197,025, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding totaling $1,424,831, two Community Water Enrichment Fund (CWEF) grants totaling $135,714 and one Local Government Assistance Program (LGAP) grants totaling $35,000.    » read more »

San Diego, California, October 14, 2009 -- Wildfires. Earthquakes. Mudslides. These are not scenes from the latest Hollywood disaster movie, but the realities of living and working in San Diego and throughout the Golden State. And as wildfire season continues to be an ever present threat in San Diego and Southern California, AT&T* has announced it will hold a Network Disaster Recovery Exercise (NDR) in San Diego at PETCO Park from Oct. 13 to 23, 2009.    » read more »

National Emergency Grant Will Provide Needed Funds to Ohio for Continued Efforts in Response to 2007 Flood Devastation

October 1, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that the Ohio Department of Job and Family Service (ODJFS) will receive $1,507,168 in national emergency grant (NEG) funding for clean-up and recovery efforts still necessary after the 2007 flooding in Northwest Ohio.

“Although this flooding occurred more than two years ago, Ohioans are still reminded of the damage it caused,” Brown said. “These funds will support efforts to help Northwest Ohio communities recover and rebuild.”    » read more »

Will Visit New Orleans Later This Year

August 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – In this week’s address, President Barack Obama remembered the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, described what his administration has done to boost the Gulf Coast recovery effort, and said that he will visit New Orleans before the end of the year. As the Gulf Coast recovers, we must learn the lessons of Katrina, so that our nation will be more protected and resilient in the face of disaster – whether it’s from a hurricane, earthquake, wildfire, pandemic, or terrorist attack.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
Saturday, August 29, 2009    » read more »

September 1, 2009 -- Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama's major disaster declaration issued for New York.

Assistance for the State and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

* Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)    » read more »

House Bill 4102 provides relief to school districts affected by disasters

August 28, 2009 -- BEAUMONT – Texas Governor Rick Perry today announced the state has authorized more than $62.8 million to reimburse school districts for the cost of repairs incurred as a result of Hurricane Ike. The reimbursements are part of House Bill 4102, which provides relief for school districts impacted by disasters or other emergencies.    » read more »

Governor Jindal announces FEMA will cover 100 percent of debris removal efforts after Hurricane Ike; State and local agencies cost share dropped to 10 percent for rebuilding work under the Public Assistance Program

Jul 01, 2009 -- BATON ROUGE – Today, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has dropped the state’s cost share for Hurricane Ike response and recovery operations, which the state estimates could save state and local agencies between $15 million and $20 million.

Language in a recent supplemental bill passed by Congress directed FEMA to drop the state’s cost-share burden for the Public Assistance program for Hurricane Ike, which struck Louisiana just days after    » read more »

Co-sponsors Disaster State Housing Recover Act

June 23, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, joined Senator Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) in introducing the Disaster State Housing Recovery Act. This bill ensures that states with GO Zone or Heartland Act credits, such as Alabama, are treated as Congress intended when it provided the special allocations of credits to aid in their recovery from recent natural disasters.    » read more »

Offers Plan to Spur Housing Construction in Indiana Disaster Areas; Legislation would free up $230 million to create jobs, rebuild Hoosier communities devastated by floods

June 23, 2009 -- Washington -- Senator Evan Bayh today proposed legislation that would make $230 million in funding immediately available to begin work on shovel-ready affordable housing developments in flood-ravaged areas of Indiana.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, the Bayh legislation could create up to 1,728 new jobs in Indiana.    » read more »

$439 Million for Barrier Island Restoration Included in Supplemental Appropriations Bill

June 18, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., applauded today’s passage of the FY 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill, legislation containing funding for Hurricane Katrina recovery in addition to needed funding for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Following passage of the legislation, Wicker issued the following statement:

“This bill funds our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and provides the resources they need to carry out their mission. The bill also contains much-needed funding to restore the federally-owned barrier islands.    » read more »