FEMA extends area’s deadline for post-hurricane housing

Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Monday that Federal Emergency Management Agency has extended transitional sheltering for Hurricane Ike evacuees and made the Tri-parishes eligible for public assistance programs upon his request.

The sheltering initiative, which provides housing to evacuees with severely damaged homes or no power, will continue until Oct. 28.

Assistance has been extended for FEMA applicants who are eligible for housing assistance or who have not yet received a FEMA inspection of their home.

FEMA will notify applicants whether they qualify for assistance after Oct. 28. Applicants with questions should call FEMA’s hotline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or its toll-free line at 1-800-462-7585 or visit www.fema.gov.

Terrebonne, Lafourche and St. Mary are among 24 parishes eligible for the 100 percent federal cost share under the FEMA Public Assistance Program.

The program, which began Sept. 14 and runs through Oct. 26, is for categories A-G for Hurricane Ike, which includes repairs to damaged public facilities.

State agencies, local governmental entities and eligible non-profit groups that incurred damage from Hurricane Ike should file a request for public assistance – available at www.LouisianaPA.com. – with GOHSEP no later than Nov. 9.