BATON ROUGE, La. –Livingston Parish school campuses have reopened for students and teachers with the help of a $17.5 million FEMA grant.The grant paid for work to eliminate health and safety hazards so thousands of Livingston Parish students could return to school. Damage from August’s floods forced parish schools to close for a month. Work included removing wet floors, walls and contents and other mold elimination measures like drying and cleaning.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Students returned to the following 11 refurbished Livingston Parish school campuses: Doyle Elementary, Holden School, Springfield Elementary, Denham Springs Junior High,...

BATON ROUGE, La. – They come from a variety of backgrounds and bring something a little extra to their new jobs with FEMA. Many local hires with the agency have been affected by the August flooding in Louisiana or know someone who has. All take a special interest in the area’s recovery.FEMA hires local workers for temporary, full-time jobs at disaster recovery offices. A local workforce, employed until the disaster recovery mission ends, helps free FEMA staff to move to the next disaster assignment. Local employees also bring knowledge about the...

BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana disaster survivors affected by August flooding have two weeks left to register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.The deadline to register is Monday, Nov. 14, 2016.Survivors may register with FEMA by going online with any computer, smartphone or tablet to DisasterAssistance.gov, calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362, or downloading the FEMA mobile app. Survivors who use a TTY may call 800-462-7585 to register.Survivors can also register for assistance at any FEMA disaster recovery center. To find a disaster recovery center near you, call...

BATON ROUGE, La. — FEMA will provide free information at local home-improvement stores about repairing or rebuilding homes safer and stronger.They will answer questions and offer home-improvement tips and proven methods to prevent and lessen damage from disasters. Most of the information is aimed at people who prefer “do-it-yourself” projects and general contractors.Mitigation specialists are in these home improvement stores 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Saturday from Oct. 31 through Nov. 12:Ascension ParishLowe’s - 12484 Airline Highway, Gonzales, La.East Baton Rouge Parish84 Lumber - 8675 S. Choctaw Drive, Baton...

BATON ROUGE, La. — Request funds to make your structure safer and stronger within 60 days after your community notifies you it is substantially damaged.If you’re rebuilding or repairing a substantially damaged home or business, your community may require you to elevate or make other changes. Substantial damage applies when the cost of restoring a structure equals or exceeds 50 percent of its pre-damage market value, but some communities have more restrictive regulations.Your National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy may provide up to $30,000 to update your structure so it meets...

Official website of the Department of Homeland SecurityOriginal linkOriginal author: sylvia.obear

BATON ROUGE, La. — The U.S. Small Business Administration is opening a disaster loan outreach center on Tuesday, Oct. 25, in Acadia Parish to assist Louisiana flood survivors. The center will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, until further notice. Acadia ParishLocation: Old Wells Fargo Building10 N. Parkerson Ave.Crowley, LA 70526Hours:  9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Monday through Friday)The new disaster loan outreach center will be transitioning from the FEMA disaster recovery center at the same address that ceased operations on Saturday, Oct. 15.With the community continuing to repair...

BATON ROUGE, La. — In less than three months following the August severe storms and floods, more than $1 billion has been paid to National Flood Insurance Program policyholders in Louisiana.These payments have helped Louisiana policyholders repair or rebuild their disaster-damaged homes and businesses. Some have received additional payments to enhance their structure’s ability to better withstand future storms and floods.Those who have questions about flood insurance can call the FEMA helpline and select Option 2, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call center staff are available to...

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana residents in disaster-declared parishes whose wells or septic systems were damaged by the August flooding could be eligible for financial help from the state and FEMA under the Individuals and Households Program.You might be eligible to get money to pay for cleaning out septic tanks and repairing or replacing the system, as needed. Damaged private wells that are the sole source of water for your home might qualify as well.If you have applied for FEMA assistance already, you should let the FEMA inspector know you have...

DENTON, Texas– New preliminary flood maps for communities in Bowie County, Texas, are now ready for review. Local, state and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials teamed up to produce them.Residents and business owners are encouraged to view the maps for a better understanding of their flood risks. This understanding will help people make informed decisions about building plans. It will also help property owners decide whether to purchase flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood Insurance is recommended for all areas of risk, even low risk areas.The public...