Storms 411

Thousands of Flooded Terrebonne Homes May Not be Eligible for FEMA Aid

HOUMA -- Nearly 10,000 Terrebonne Parish homes were severely damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Rita, but officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency said they had to investigate whether residents are eligible for disaster relief.

In a memo Monday, William Lokey, FEMA’s deputy federal coordinating officer, wrote that although Gov. Kathleen Blanco asked for all parishes to be declared disasters, and eligible for relief money, only the Louisiana parishes that suffered hurricane-force winds have been included.

Saturday, FEMA declared nine Texas counties and five coastal Louisiana parishes in the southwest portion of the state disaster areas and eligible for individual assistance -- including low-interest loans to rebuild damage homes -- as a result of Rita.

In his memo, Lokey wrote that although Blanco wanted all parishes included in FEMA’s disaster-assistance program, "FEMA determined to initially include only parishes which sustained hurricane-force winds."

Terrebonne sustained tropical-storm-force winds during Rita, but a 9-foot storm surge swamped thousands of homes and displaced a significant portion of the parish population.

Lokey wrote that FEMA is working with state officials to determine whether residents in additional parishes need help.  [Read more - WWLTV]

Rita Victims to Get $2,000 in Immediate Funds

President Bush on Tuesday said victims of Hurricane Rita would be eligible for $2,000 per household in immediate emergency aid, just as victims of Hurricane Katrina were offered after it hit southeastern Louisiana and Mississippi on Aug. 29.

He acknowledged the frustrations of those who have been unable to return home, but urged them not to return to their hometowns yet.

"Now's not the time to come back," Bush said in an appearance with local officials, the heads of federal relief efforts and Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco.

At a later news conference, the acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, David Paulison, said the $2,000 was "expedited assistance" to help those in the hard-hit areas.

"We just give you $2,000 based on the damage we have. This is a program that is unprecedented. We only did it in Katrina because of the amount of people impacted and the fact they were scattered all over the country," he said.

He added, "With Rita coming right behind it, it only made sense just to continue the program."