UPDATED Aug. 17, 2016
Twenty parishes have now been declared a major disaster by the federal government. Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate approved the declaration in a meeting with Gov. John Bel Edwards while he visited Louisiana on Tuesday. The following parishes are:
- Acadia
- Ascension
- Avoyelles
- East Baton Rouge
- East Feliciana
- Evangeline
- Iberia
- Iberville
- Jefferson Davis
- Lafayette
- Livingston
- Pointe Coupee
- St. Helena
- St. Landry
- St. Martin
- St. Tammany
- Tangipahoa
- Vermilion
- Washington
- West Feliciana
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. Click here for more information.
Small-business information
The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness has activated the Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center. The website is focused on helping businesses and nonprofits respond to and recover from natural or man-made disasters.
To find the latest information, visit www.labeoc.org.
Financial assistance
Assistance for individuals and families affected by the flooding can include:
- Loans up to $2 million for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster’s adverse economic impact.
- Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence.
- Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable.
- Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional.
- Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs.
- Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals.
- Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance.
To learn more, click here.
Shelter
The governor’s office has posted a list of shelters for parishes affected by the flooding. Read it here.
Insurance
- NFIB says applying for a federal disaster loan may be tedious, but it’s worth the work. Click here for more information.
- NFIB also has advice on navigating the claims process after a disaster. Click here to learn more.
Transportation
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development is posting updates on road closures on its website. Click here for the latest updates.
