Release Number: 1604-543
BILOXI, Miss. -- The following is a summary of Mississippi recovery efforts to date:
Individual support continues with more than $1.1 billion to individuals and families:
- 216,509 individuals and families have been approved for Housing Assistance totaling more than $846 million;
- 134,220 Mississippi survivors have been approved for more than $311 million in Other Needs Assistance;
- 25,871 temporary housing units (travel trailers and mobile homes) in service. Nearly 20,000 units have been returned to FEMA.
In communities across the state, approximately $1.26 billion has been approved in the following Public Assistance (PA) categories as of Apr. 23:
- More than $691 million obligated for land-based debris removal.
* More than 45 million cubic yards of eligible land-based debris has been removed from public and private property throughout the state. Nearly 31 million cubic yards of debris have been removed in the lower three counties.
* Removal of land-based construction and demolition debris in the inundated areas of the three coastal counties has been extended to June 30. Standing dead trees are eligible for removal from all parts of Harrison, Hancock, Jackson, Pearl River and Stone counties through June 30. Property owners must complete a right-of-entry form available at their local building department by the deadline set by their local jurisdiction.
- $356 million for emergency protective measures;
- $449 million to repair public buildings;
- $306 million to restore public utilities;
- $95 million to restore public recreational facilities such as state parks;
- $57 million to repair roads and bridges;
- $2 million to repair water control devices such as reservoirs and irrigation channels.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency administers the funds. To date, MEMA has disbursed more than $1.6 billion to PA applicants for debris removal and rebuilding projects including bridges, public buildings and utilities.
An inter-agency campaign, directed by FEMA, has been working to clean up Mississippi's coastal and inland waterways.
- As of Apr. 17, the U.S. Coast Guard has cleared nearly 83,000 cubic yards of marine debris from the water since marine cleanup began last September and six of 16 marine debris removal contracts are complete.
- Approximately 245,173 cubic yards remains in the inland waterways and another estimated 10,294 cubic yards remain to be removed offshore. Marine debris removal will be 100 percent federally funded until May 15, 2007.
- Nearly $237 million has been obligated for marine debris removal.
Preparation today for tomorrow's disasters...
- The number of approved Hazard Mitigation plans in Mississippi has increased from 12 before Hurricane Katrina to 86 with more pending.
- FEMA has paid more than $2.4 billion through its National Flood Insurance Program to 17,214 policy holders.
LESS THAN 60 DAYS REMAIN UNTIL THE START OF HURRICANE SEASON.
Unless otherwise noted, the above figures were compiled as of Apr. 19, 2007.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, economic status or retaliation. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, you should call FEMA toll-free at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or contact your State Office of Equal rights. If suspicious of any abuse of FEMA programs, please contact the fraud hotline at 1-800-323-8603.