President Trump has approved Governor Landry’s request for a Major Disaster declaration for nine parishes in north Louisiana from last month’s massive ice storm. Mike Steele with GOHSEP says the storm has cost state and local governments a lot of money, and the declaration will go a long way towards helping them out.
“This will help restore some of those funds that were used to cover some of those costs. And we’re talking about a 75%/25% reimbursement rate at this point,” Steele said.
Steele says the costs incurred by governments have been wide-ranging, with much more still to come.
“Everything from road crews to extra law enforcement helping out in certain areas, public works crews helping with trees that had fallen and debris removal and that type of thing,” Steele said.
Steele says the declaration, however, does not cover individuals at this point, since there weren’t a tremendous number of households impacted by the storm. Still, he says those who did sustain damage to their properties should report any damage to Damage LA Gov.
“That information flow could help determine, at some point, if that individual assistance request is sent up to the federal government,” Steele noted.
The nine parishes included in the declaration are Bienville, DeSoto, East Carroll, Franklin, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas and West Carroll parishes. Steele says more parishes may be added as damage assessment continues.
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