FEMA Expands Public Assistance Program to 19 More Parishes, at Request of Governor Jindal

BATON ROUGE, LA – At the request of Governor Bobby Jindal, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) amended its disaster declaration for Hurricane Gustav to add all remaining categories of Public Assistance (PA) for 19 additional parishes.

The following parishes are now eligible for the FEMA Public Assistance (PA) program for categories A-G, which includes repairs to damaged public facilities: Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Claiborne, Concordia, DeSoto, East Carroll, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Red River, Richland, Tensas, Union, Webster and West Carroll.

State agencies, local governmental entities and eligible non-profit organizations located in the declared parishes that have incurred damage as a result of Hurricane Gustav should file a Request for Public Assistance with GOHSEP no later than October 30, 2008 in order to identify themselves as eligible for assistance under the FEMA Public Assistance Program.

All 64 parishes have been declared eligible for the public assistance program for all categories and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The Governor requested that all 64 parishes be provided federal assistance following Hurricane Gustav.

The Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is currently conducting Public Assistance Applicant Briefings throughout the state for Hurricane Ike.