Governor John Bel Edwards highly encourages Louisianans affected by Hurricane Laura to file for FEMA assistance immediately so they can receive benefits in a timely manner. Sixteen parishes have now been approved for federal assistance. You can do so by going to www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1-800-621-FEMA.
“Go ahead and start that process. There may be an initial denial because you don’t provide a necessary piece of information but work through that get that information in as soon as you can. So, don’t give up,” says Edwards.
Edwards is not giving up either, he originally requested assistance for 26 parishes, and hopes that eventually all will be approved for funding.
The largest hurdles to rebuilding southwest Louisiana is restoring power and water to the area. Edwards says in some of the hardest-hit areas approximately 500 large transmission towers need to be restored and blocked roadways are huge obstacles.
“More than 100 of those are the very, very large towers. It takes four 18-wheelers to bring in the components for one of those,” says Edwards.
Governor Edwards says so far, the state has taken in approximately 11,500 people seeking shelter from Hurricane Laura. Many registered initially at the Mega Shelter in Alexandria and then they are moved into hotels.
“10,980 were in the non-congregant shelters that we’re talking about. So we’re using hotels in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport, 46 hotels altogether,” says Edwards.
If you need shelter assistance text LA Shelter to 898211.
Reported by Brooke Thorington
Comments