Terrebonne added to disaster declaration

Terrebonne Parish has been included in an amendment to an initial Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster declaration from President Obama for Louisiana following the impact of Hurricane Isaac last week.

In a FEMA Response and Recovery Office news release, Terrebonne was added to a list for individual assistance along with Assumption, St. Helena, St. James and Washington parishes.

Lafourche Parish had been named on the initial list of areas available for federal individual disaster assistance. Joining Terrebonne’s eastern neighbor in the first proclamation were Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. John the Baptist, Jefferson, St. Tammany, Orleans, Ascension and Livingston parishes.

“We applied for individual assistance immediately [following the storm],” Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet said. “However, the FEMA inspectors were unable to go to the Island or to lower Pointe-aux-Chenes and had to come back for further damage assessments. Also, we were able to identify and locate additional damages. We are most grateful for the survey that was done of our damages that has now allowed us to qualify for individual assistance in Terrebonne.”

The amount of funds available for Louisiana areas impacted by Hurricane Isaac remains unknown at this time.

On Tuesday, FEMA opened a disaster relief center at 4708 La. Highway 1 in Mathews.

According to FEMA spokesman H.R. Holman storm victims can register either at the center, on line at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling (800) 621-3362.

“The center will be opened as long as people are coming between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.,” Holman said.

The FEMA representative said disaster applicants should have with them their Social Security number, description of loss caused by the disaster, insurance information, directions to where the damaged property is located and a telephone number where they can be contacted.

Relief applicants will be issued a case number they need to keep available for claims compensation.