Hurricane Katrina

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 »

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 »

$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 »

May 12, 2009 -- Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation (GCCF) today announced a unique low and moderate income housing rehabilitation partnership funded through the state’s $5.4 billion Hurricane Katrina Recovery Fund.

“Geared toward those Hurricane Katrina victims who can’t afford to repair or replace their home, this initiative is another example of how our state is using our federally appropriated Katrina recovery dollars to leverage the knowledge and resources of locally based organizations,” Governor Barbour said.    » read more »

April 21, 2009 -- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced today that $93.6 million for Louisiana public assistance projects have been funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) since her visit to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast on March 5-6. FEMA has obligated a total of $340 million for Louisiana public assistance related to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita projects since January 20.

“We are quickly moving resources to Louisiana to accelerate critical restoration in the areas hit hardest by Katrina and Rita,” said Secretary Napolitano. “I have seen firsthand the continued need for support in the region, and I understand the importance of coordinating with our state and local partners to help these communities rebuild.”    » read more »

Brings funded Ground Zero projects to almost $155 million awarded since December

February 26, 2009 -- Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour announced today that an additional $11.5 million has been awarded for Hurricane Katrina recovery projects in Hancock County.

The projects are part of the third round of the $200 million ‘Ground Zero’ Program, which applies specifically in Hancock County, where some of Hurricane Katrina’s most serious damage occurred.    » read more »

February 20, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today the details of a new six-month transition rental assistance program for families currently enrolled in the Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP-Katrina/Rita). HUD and FEMA will provide the additional assistance to families as needed until August 31 to give them more time to transition out of the DHAP program, either to self-sufficiency or other federal or state housing programs, including HUD's Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program.    » read more »

Governor Haley Barbour said today an additional $60 million has been awarded for Hurricane Katrina recovery projects in Hancock County.

January 29, 2009 -- The projects compose the second round of funding in the total $200 million 'Ground Zero' Program, which applies specifically in Hancock County, where some of Hurricane Katrina's most serious damage occurred. A total of $145 million in Ground Zero funding has been designated for Hancock County projects so far.    » read more »

FEMA Urges Landlords To Register Rental Property

January 22, 2009 -- BILOXI, Miss. -- Federal officials have stepped up efforts to help Mississippi families continue their recovery and transition to permanent housing following Hurricane Katrina. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Housing Resource department has identified 5,684 available rental resources on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Landlords with available property are encouraged to contact FEMA so additional units can be listed. There are three phone numbers available to call: (228) 594-3507, (228) 594-2996 or toll-free (866) 877-6075, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. You may also leave a message during non-working hours and a FEMA representative will respond.    » read more »

August 29, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Today, on the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina devastating the Gulf Coast, Senator Obama released the following statement on the importance of following through with our commitment to the region.

Hurricane Katrina storm surge, Mobile, Alabama: Photo by Mel Silvers (CC)    » read more »

Hurricane Katrina: GAO Study Results

July 17, 2008 -- New Orleans faces many challenges in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina including the challenge of reestablishing the health care system and hospitals within the system. Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall on August 29, 2005, and the subsequent flooding caused by the failure of the New Orleans levee systems, resulted in the sudden closure, damage, or disruption in services at many of the New Orleans hospitals.    » read more »

BILOXI, Miss., July 1, 2008 -- Lights, camera, action! The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Mississippi Transitional Recovery Office (TRO) raised the curtain on a new initiative created especially for young citizens. FEMA in the Classroom is designed to empower and educate elementary school-age children to protect themselves, their families and their pets.

The program, designed by Public Affairs staff from FEMA's Mississippi TRO, uses various hands-on projects and other activities to explain disaster preparedness topics such as creating a family disaster kit, drafting a family communications plan and pet preparedness.    » read more »

June 5, 2008 -- John McCain says he is running the most transparent campaign in history. Yet just yesterday McCain and his campaign were caught misrepresenting his record on Hurricane Katrina, trying to cover it up, and then backtracking and shifting their answers on the issue.

This follows a pattern of deception we've seen with McCain: he insists on raising campaign money behind closed doors to hide the fact that lobbyists and the special interests are funding his campaign, he is not transparent about his tax returns and finances, and he is not transparent about the lobbyists running his campaign.    » read more »

June 03, 2008 -- John McCain has some nerve going to New Orleans, site of the Bush Administration’s do-nothing approach to Hurricane Katrina, to announce that he’s a “different kind of Republican.”

From health care and jobs to the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Sen. McCain’s record shows he’s in lockstep with President Bush and the Administration’s corporate allies.

A small and subdued collection of John McCain supporters during his New Orleans speech: Photo by dsb nola (CC)    » read more »

Federal Coordinator Doug O'Dell and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Brigadier General Michael Walsh Discuss Levee Protection in New Orleans

May 30, 2008 -- New Orleans, LA. – General Doug O’Dell, federal coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding, along with Brigadier General Michael Walsh of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), recently hosted a media conference call to discuss hurricane protection in New Orleans in preparation for the upcoming hurricane season beginning June 1.

A levee wall in New Orleans: Photo by AuthenticEccentric (CC)    » read more »