FEMA Dedication to MS

3/10 Mississippi recovery efforts to date:

Individual support continues with more than $1.16 billion to individuals and families:

* 216,483 individuals and families have been approved for Housing Assistance totaling more than $849 million;
* 134,202 Mississippi survivors have been approved for more than $319 million in Other Needs Assistance;
* As of Mar. 2, 2007, there were 27,837 temporary housing units (travel trailers and mobile homes) in service. Nearly 16,000 units have been returned to FEMA.

In communities across the state, approximately $1.18 billion has been approved in the following Public Assistance (PA) categories:

* $353 million for emergency protective measures;
* $425 million to repair public buildings;
* $303 million to restore public utilities;
* $61 million to restore public recreational facilities such as state parks;
* $38 million to repair roads and bridges;
* $1.9 million to repair water control devices such as reservoirs and irrigation channels.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency administers the funds. To date, MEMA has disbursed more than $1 billion to PA applicants for rebuilding projects including bridges, public buildings and utilities.

*More than $683 million obligated for land-based debris removal.
* More than 45 million cubic yards of eligible land-based debris has been removed from public and private property throughout the state.
Approximately 30 million cubic yards of debris have been removed in the lower three counties.
* Removal of land-based construction and demolition debris in the inundated areas of the three coastal counties has been extended to June 30.
Standing dead trees are eligible for removal from all parts of Harrison, Hancock and Jackson counties through June 30. Property owners must complete right-of-entry form available at their local building department by the deadline set by their local jurisdiction.

An inter-agency campaign, directed by FEMA, has been working to clean up Mississippi's coastal and inland waterways.

* The U.S. Coast Guard has cleared more than 63,000 cubic yards of marine debris from the water since marine cleanup began last September and six of 16 marine debris removal contracts are complete.
* Approximately 224,785 cubic yards remains in the inland waterways and another estimated 247,208 cubic yards remain to be removed offshore.
Marine debris removal will be 100 percent federally funded until May 15, 2007.
* Nearly $237 million has been obligated for marine debris removal.

1/07
BILOXI, Miss. -- The recovery effort remains strong throughout Mississippias families rebuild their homes, communities and lives. In partnership with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), theU.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA) has obligated more than $9.4 billion in disaster aid to Mississippias of Jan. 12, 2007.
Approximately $1.1 billion has been approved in the following Public Assistance (PA) categories (not including debris removal). To date, more than $990 million has been disbursed to PA applicants for rebuilding projects including bridges, public buildings and utilities. MEMA administers the funds.
The $1.1 billion approved for PA includes:
* $326 million for emergency protective measures;
* $415 million to repair public buildings;
* $301 million to restore public utilities;
* $58 million to restore public recreational facilities such as stateparks;
* $30 million to repair roads and bridges;
* $1.6 million to repair water control devices such as reservoirs andirrigation channels. Approximately $1.16 billion to individuals and families:
* 216,448 individuals and families have been approved for Housing Assistance totaling more than $845 million;
* 134,097 Mississippi Hurricane Katrina survivors have been approvedfor more than $318 million in Other Needs Assistance.
More than $1.3 billion has been approved for debris removal including nearly$222 million for marine debris and $790 million for land-based debris.
* Approximately 45 million cubic yards of eligible land-based debrishas been removed from public and private property throughout the state. In addition, nearly 26 million cubic yards of debris have been removed in the lower three counties.
* The six-month extension for the removal of land-based debris in theinundated areas of the three coastal counties ends February 28, 2007.
* The U.S. Coast Guard has cleared nearly 47,000 cubic yards of marinedebris, and has completed four of 16 marine debris removal contracts. Marinedebris removal will be 100 percent federally funded until May 15, 2007.
Other assistance:
* FEMA paid nearly $2.5 billion through its National Flood InsuranceProgram to 17,170 policy holders;
* FEMA paid nearly $3 billion to other federal agencies to complete specific tasks or mission assignments during response and recovery, such asemergency medical assistance and debris removal;
* As of Jan. 16, 2007, there were 30,141 temporary housing units(travel trailers and mobile homes) in service. These units are being returned to FEMA at an average of 250 units per week. In addition, more than $2.6 billion in U.S. Small Business Administrationloans have been approved for Mississippians.
* Nearly $2.1 billion in loans to 31,086 homeowners and renters;
* More than $534 million to 4,334 businesses;
* More than $19 million to 328 small businesses for working capital. The above figures were compiled as of Jan. 12, 2007. The Hurricane Katrina Mississippi Recovery Update will be released on amonthly basis. FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any nationalincident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood Insurance Program.
13:05:46http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=33308