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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management Newsletter Website |
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March
2006
Volume
10 - Number 2 |
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Various reports cite different estimates of damages and opportunities for fraud, waste and abuse resulting from Hurricane Katrina. What is consistent about these reports is that the damages totaled several billions of dollars. According to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency): To date, Mississippians have received close to $6.7 billion in federal funding through various programs such as, the Individual Assistance and Public Assistance Programs. Over $2.2 billion in flood insurance has been paid to policy holders through the National Flood Insurance Program (NIFP). “More than $1.5 billion in low interest loans for homeowners, renters and business owners throughout Mississippi” was approved through the U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance Program. Over $1.1 billion have been distributed through FEMA’s Individual and Households Program (IHP) to nearly 270,000 registered households. “The Public Assistance program has obligated $747 million for emergency work and infrastructure repair that included $423 million for debris removal, $42.5 million to repair public facilities, $212 million for emergency protective measures, $4 million to repair roads and bridges and $50 million to restore public utilities.” In Louisiana, FEMA paid $12.1 billion in flood insurance to policyholders through NFIP and paid $3.3 billion in housing assistance to the victims. “FEMA has provided more than $4.5 billion directly to Louisiana victims of Hurricane Katrina and Rita for financial housing assistance through the Individuals and Households Program (IHP)”. Disaster assistance loans approved by the Small Business Administration (SBA) for 40,018 business owners, homeowners and renters totaled more than $2.9 billion. Hurricane victims who registered during the application period for unemployment assistance also received aid. A total of $164 million in unemployment assistance was provided through FEMA. Louisiana also received more than $1.3 billion dollars in Public Assistance (PA) funding through FEMA for projects such as removal of debris and emergency services. “269, 949 checks totaling over $1 billion dollars were issues for Other Needs Assistance.” In Alabama, $16 billion dollars was distributed through the NFIP. Included in the $108.1 million for infrastructure repair is $36.9 for debris removal; $13.8 million in overtime pay for emergency workers; $ 11.1 million for public utilities restoration. Repair of public facilities totaled $14 million and $2.5 million for bridges and roads. “$226 million in direct aid to individuals and families has been disbursed, including $738,800 in disaster Unemployed Assistance.” $254 million was allocated for “mission assignments allowing for services, equipment and personnel” from various governmental agencies such as EPA, DoD and for shipment of Meals Ready to Eat (MREs). More than half a billion dollars ($590 million) was provided to help aid with the relief efforts from the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina. As of February 1st 2006, more than $5 billion dollars in federal aid was distributed to more than 1.7 million households that were in the affected region. (www.whitehouse.gov) Increased funding has been requested with the hope of increasing “Overall preparedness, particularly for catastrophic events and strengthen FEMA” (www.dhs.gov) www.dhs.gov www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease www.msnbc.com http://www.whitehouse.gov/reports/katrina-lessons-learned.pdf www.gao.gov |