Community News
Recovery News
Deadline Extended For Fema's Relocation Assistance Program
Residents urged to apply today for up to $4,000 in reimbursement funding for relocation expenses NEW ORLEANS – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) extended its relocation assistance program to March 1, 2009.
Applicants displaced from their primary residence in a disaster-declared area as a result of hurricane Katrina or Rita are eligible for reimbursement of up to $4,000 in relocation expenses incurred between Aug. 29, 2005 and March 1, 2009. Relocation expenses may not exceed the FEMA Individuals and Households Program (IHP) cap of $26,200, and the applicant must not have received funds from any other state, federal or voluntary agency subsidized travelhome program. If an applicant is returning to Louisiana, he or she must relocate to housing that is not provided by FEMA and is not a hotel or motel. For those families that are already living in Louisiana in FEMA travel trailers or mobile homes, FEMA will pay moving expenses to a FEMA-funded rental resource anywhere in the continental United States.
Relocation Assistance will be limited to travel costs including airfare, train, bus and/or a rental vehicle. Furniture transportation expenses also are eligible, including commercially rented equipment for hauling and commercially purchased moving materials or moving services. Evidence of expenses, such as receipts, must be provided for reimbursement. Mileage, gas and other travel-related expenses such as food incurred while using a privately owned vehicle are not eligible costs. Moving costs for recreational or large luxury items such as boats or recreational vehicles are not eligible expenses under this program either.
For more information on FEMA’s Relocation Assistance program or to request reimbursement of relocation expenses, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) (TTY: 1-800-462-7585). To prevent duplication of benefits, an applicant is only eligible to receive relocation assistance under either Hurricane Katrina (DR-1603-LA) or Hurricane Rita (DR-1607-LA), not both.
For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/gulfcoastrecovery
Seven NORD pools open this summer
Behrman, 2529 General Meyer Ave.
Lyons Center, 624 Louisiana Ave.
Lemann, 1600 Lafitte St.
Whitney M. Young, 6500 Magazine St.
St. Bernard, 1500 Lafreneiere St.
Harrell Playground, 2300 Leonidas St.
Taylor Playground, 2600 Roman St.
NORD will hold summer swimming lessons from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m. every Monday through Thursday, and from 9 a. m. until 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Whitney Young pool. Recreational swimming is offered at the pool every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Swimming lessons will also be offered at the St. Bernard Center pool on Monday thru Thursday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information call NORD at (504) 658-2299.