[Admin]

Federal and state agents say confusion often arises about what types and how much assistance the federal and state government offer in the wake of storms such as Hurricane Gustav.

“There are so many rumors going around about lots of different things,” said Hannah Vick, a spokeswoman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “They say FEMA’s passing out checks or debit cards right now, and that’s not the case. People have to go through the assistance process to receive funds.”

Reimbursement for generators is another circulating rumor, Vick said, and confirmed FEMA will only reimburse generators if there is a documented medical need from a licensed physician.
There are a few federal assistance programs related to Gustav, Vick said, with the main ones being the Blue Roof Program and temporary housing assistance or housing repair.

The specifics on who qualifies for different programs vary on a case-by-case basis, which is why it is crucial for affected residents to call the FEMA assistance hotline, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), Vick said.

“When a person calls, the person on the other end walks them through the process and finds out their particular needs and situation,” Vick said. “Everyone is so different, and we’ll find out what they’re eligible for in terms of assistance.”

Temporary housing means giving a resident money to rent a different place or live in a temporary housing unit while repairs are being made to a home, according to a release from FEMA.

FEMA will help to repair housing damage from a disaster if it is not covered by private insurance and will provide up to $28,800 for home repair. If the damage exceeds the total, homeowners may apply for a Small Business Administration disaster loan for additional assistance, the release said.

However, FEMA assistance is designed to repair homes to a “safe and sanitary living or functioning condition,” and the agency will not pay to have a home rebuilt to its condition before Gustav hit.

If the home was built in a Special Flood Hazard Area, flood insurance may be required, and if a homeowner has private insurance, any assistance provided is considered an advance and must be reimbursed to FEMA when the insurance settlement is received, the release said.

FEMA spokeswoman Denise Everhart said Tuesday FEMA received 5,663 assistance applications in Iberia Parish and has approved $206,720. In St. Mary Parish, 5,876 applications were received, with $58,216 approved, and in St. Martin Parish, FEMA received 2,636 applications with $125,448 approved.

As of Tuesday, FEMA had approved more than $4 million in assistance statewide and ordered FEMA inspectors to visit the homes of 296,784 Louisiana residents.

There is temporary relocation assistance available, which will pay for a hotel if the home is inaccessible or uninhabitable. But again, Vick said it is based on individual needs.

“In some cases, we have other needs assistance,” she said. “We look at a person’s individual situation and evaluate what needs they have in the wake of a disaster, such as funeral expenses or a lost wheelchair.”

On a state level, the emergency food stamp program and the Disaster Unemployment Assistance are available to those affected by Gustav.

DUA provides benefits to residents whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted because of a major disaster. Benefits are issued from Sept. 7 until March 7, so long as the unemployment continues to be a result of Hurricane Gustav, according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

For information or to apply for DUA, call (866) 783-5567. Phone hours are from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice, according to the commission.
http://www.iberianet.com/articles/2008/09/...78754429173.txt