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Hurricane Katrina Mississippi Recovery Update: January 2009
From: FEMA   Filed 2/9/09   GCN

Biloxi, Miss. – The following is a summary of Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts in Mississippi as of Jan. 27, 2009:

Individual support continues with nearly $1.3 billion to individuals and families affected by Hurricane Katrina:

  • 274,760 individuals and families have been approved for the Individuals and Households Program (IHP) totaling nearly $1.3 billion;
  • 216,558 individuals and families have been approved for Housing Assistance totaling more than $851 million;
  • 134,915 Mississippians have been approved for more than $416 million in Other Needs Assistance (ONA);
  • 2,545 temporary housing units (travel trailers and mobile homes) remain in service. More than 90 percent of those units are located on private property. More than 40,650 units have been deactivated;
  • 1,437 total occupied units are in the three lower counties:
    • Hancock 334
    • Harrison 695
    • Jackson 408

More than 2,800 Mississippi families moved from FEMA temporary housing to Mississippi Cottage units. The Mississippi Cottage was developed through the Mississippi Alternative Housing Program, which is administered by MEMA and is funded by a $280 million federal grant. For more information about the program, visit www.mscottage.org. The goal of the program is to develop and produce a safer, more comfortable temporary housing unit for use after a disaster. The program is drawing to a close in early 2009. Less than 2,400 cottages remain occupied. MEMA continues to work with local communities to develop permanent housing options for cottage residents.

Through an intra-agency agreement between FEMA and the U.S. Coast Guard, the marine debris removal effort restores Mississippi’s coastal and inland waterways: 

  • The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), utilizing local companies, has cleared nearly 390,000 cubic yards of marine debris from coastal waters in Harrison, Hancock and Jackson counties since May 2006.
  • Fifteen of the 16 contracts have been completed. 
  • The contract in the marsh areas north of Bay St. Louis in Hancock/Harrison counties is complete with the exception of the reforestation and monitoring required by the permit obtained by the USCG from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
  • Tree Planting Plan has been developed and reviewed. Planting will begin on or about Feb. 2, 2009.
  • Nearly 80,000 cubic yards of debris has been removed as a result of this project alone.
  • Total Marine Debris Removal from waterways of the three coastal counties: 

o       Jackson County: 74,350  cubic yards

o       Harrison County: 199,331 cubic yards

o       Hancock County: 116,253 cubic yards

More than $2.8 billion has been obligated in various Public Assistance (PA) categories for infrastructure damage caused by Hurricane Katrina:

  • More than $700 million obligated for land-based debris removal; more than $900 million in Direct Federal Assistance funds were obligated to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the land-based debris removal mission.
  • To date, more than 46 million cubic yards of debris has been removed – that’s equal to a football field stacked approximately 4.9 miles high.
  • $855 million to repair public utilities;
  • $603 million to repair or replace public buildings;
  • $392 million for emergency protective measures;
  • $72 million to repair roads and bridges;
  • $1.3 million to repair water control devices such as ditches and irrigation channels.
  • $158 million to repair and restore public recreational facilities such as state parks;
  • $105 million to meet the costs of administering the PA grants.

MEMA administers PA funds. To date, MEMA has disbursed more than $1.67 billion to Hurricane Katrina PA applicants for debris removal and rebuilding projects including bridges, public buildings and utilities.

Preparing today for tomorrow’s disasters:

  • FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) brings together federal, state and local governments to prepare communities for future disaster events by providing grants to implement long-term solutions for protecting lives and property.
  • MEMA, as designated by the governor of Mississippi, administers the HMGP. MEMA provides eligible grant applicants with assistance in mitigation planning, project selection, application development and reimbursement.
  • Currently, FEMA has 213 state-approved applications for new Hazard Mitigation projects totaling more than $144 million in obligated funding.
  • Across the state, 251 jurisdictions have MEMA/FEMA approved Hazard Mitigation plans.
  • Specific efforts are being directed to develop wind retrofit and drainage projects.
  • The amount of funding available for the HMGP following a disaster is 7.5 percent of the total amount of federal assistance. $393 million in HMGP funds is available for Mississippi as a result of Hurricane Katrina.    

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