TRAVERS: THE BIG STORY WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW, HURRICANE ZETA AND THE IMPACTS IT IS HAVING NOT JUST ON THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS BUT ALL ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA, WE WANT TO HELP YOU BUDGET YOUR MONEY AND GET THE REPAIRS THAT YOU NEED IF YOU NEED TO MAKE REPAIRS TO YOUR HOME. TO TALK MORE ABOUT MONEY MATTERS, WE ARE JOINED LIVE FIVE CAMBERLEY WASHINGTON. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WHAT TYPES OF MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO THOSE IMPACTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS LIKE ZETA? WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE STORM. >> RIGHT. IF YOU ARE A PERSON WHO NEEDS ALONE AT THIS TIME, THERE MAY BE SOME RELIEF AVAILABLE TO YOU. THE FHA, THERE IS AN FHA RESOURCE CENTER AND IT PROVIDES DOWN PAYMENT LOANS SO YOU CAN REPAIR AND REPLACE YOUR PROPERTY. CONTACT THEM BY CALLING 1-800-569-4287. YOUR PROPERTY HAS TO BE IN A FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTER AREA FOR YOU TO QUALIFY. THIS MAY HELP OUT SOME INDIVIDUALS AT THIS TIME. TRAVERS: LET’S TALK TAX RELIEF. WHAT CAN TAXPAYERS EXPECT TO OBTAIN, IF ANYTHING, FROM THE IRS WHEN IT COMES TO ASSISTANCE? KEMBERLEY: RIGHT NOW, WE KNOW THIS HURRICANE HAS BEEN DECLARED A FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTER. THAT IS GOOD NEWS AS IT RELATES TO RELIEF. YOU CAN GO BACK AND AMEND YOUR TAX RETURN FROM 2019. YOU CAN CLAIM ANY UNCOVERED LOSS ON YOUR TAX RETURN. IF YOU DO THAT RIGHT NOW, IT WOULD HELP GET FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE INTO YOUR HOME AND FUNDS INTO YOUR POCKET. YOU CAN UTILIZE THE MONEY SO THAT YOU CAN USE IT TO REPAIR OR REPLACE ANY DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN IMPACTING YOU AT THIS TIME. TRAVERS: HERE IS THE QUESTION THAT PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW, LET’S TALK ENTERGY AND REPAIR BILLS. WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO IF THEY NEED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THINGS LIKE THAT? KEMBERLE THERE IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT COULD BE AVAILABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS. YOU HAVE TO QUALIFY AS IT RELATES TO YOUR INCOME. THE MONEY CAN BE USED FOR ENERGY BILLS. IT CAN BE USED FOR ENERGY RELATED DAMAGES THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR OUT-OF-POCKET AT THIS TIME. THIS FEDERAL PROGRAM IS OWNED THROUGH THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES. YOU CAN CONTACT THEM AT THE NUMBER 202-4 01-9351. THEY CAN PROVIDE SOME FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR YOU AT THIS TIME. TRAVERS: GREAT INFORMATION. FINAL QUESTION, FOR THOSE PEOPLE SEEKING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DUE TO A HOME OR AN APARTMENT THAT MIGHT NOT BE HABITABLE RIGHT NOW, WHAT CAN THEY DO? KEMBERLE MANY PEOPLE ARE OUT OF THEIR HOMES RIGHT NOW AS IT RELATES TO HURRICANE ZETA. YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY AND QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT YOU QUALIFY FOR ADDITIONAL LIVING EXPENSES. THAT CAN BE FUNDS YOU CAN UTILIZE TO TAKE CARE OF DAMAGE THAT WAS IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR BECAUSE A POWER LOSS, MAYBE HOTEL BILLS AS WELL. YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY, NOT ONLY TO PUT IN A CLAIM BUT FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE TO YO
Gov. Edwards’ request for Hurricane Zeta major disaster declaration approved by White House
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Updated: 6:22 PM CST Jan 12, 2021
Gov. John Bel Edwards’ announced Tuesday that his request for a major disaster declaration due to damage in Louisiana from Hurricane Zeta has been approved by President Donald Trump. This will help provide direct assistance to those people and communities impacted by the storm. Hurricane Zeta made landfall in Lafourche Parish on Oct. 28 as a very strong Category 2 system with sustained winds of at least 110 mph, higher wind gusts and heavy rainfall. In addition, some areas hit by Zeta are also still recovering from Category 4 Hurricane Laura, Category 2 Hurricane Delta and the ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.The declaration includes this specific support:INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE (Assistance to individuals and households):Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and Terrebonne parishes.PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (Assistance for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities):Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and St. Charles parishes for Public Assistance Category A (debris removal).Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana Parishes for Public Assistance Category B (emergency protective measures), including direct Federal assistance.HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM (Assistance for actions taken to prevent or reduce long term risk to life and property from natural hazards): All areas in the State of Louisiana are eligible for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.Note: Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.“We appreciate President Trump’s approval for this assistance. Hurricane Zeta was the third storm within two months to wreak havoc on communities in Louisiana. Many areas were already in the process of rebuilding from damage by two earlier storms,” said Gov. Edwards in an issued statement. “Zeta brought considerable damage to the impacted areas. This will allow the state and our federal partners to continue assisting families with recovery from these events.”A major disaster declaration can only be requested following a disaster. The Governor previously declared a state of emergency on Oct. 26 and a total of 21 parishes declared states of emergency in preparation for Zeta.
BATON ROUGE, La. — Gov. John Bel Edwards’ announced Tuesday that his request for a major disaster declaration due to damage in Louisiana from Hurricane Zeta has been approved by President Donald Trump.
This will help provide direct assistance to those people and communities impacted by the storm. Hurricane Zeta made landfall in Lafourche Parish on Oct. 28 as a very strong Category 2 system with sustained winds of at least 110 mph, higher wind gusts and heavy rainfall.
In addition, some areas hit by Zeta are also still recovering from Category 4 Hurricane Laura, Category 2 Hurricane Delta and the ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The declaration includes this specific support:
INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE (Assistance to individuals and households):
Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and Terrebonne parishes.
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (Assistance for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities):
Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and St. Charles parishes for Public Assistance Category A (debris removal).
Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana Parishes for Public Assistance Category B (emergency protective measures), including direct Federal assistance.
HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM (Assistance for actions taken to prevent or reduce long term risk to life and property from natural hazards):
All areas in the State of Louisiana are eligible for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Note: Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
“We appreciate President Trump’s approval for this assistance. Hurricane Zeta was the third storm within two months to wreak havoc on communities in Louisiana. Many areas were already in the process of rebuilding from damage by two earlier storms,” said Gov. Edwards in an issued statement. “Zeta brought considerable damage to the impacted areas. This will allow the state and our federal partners to continue assisting families with recovery from these events.”
A major disaster declaration can only be requested following a disaster. The Governor previously declared a state of emergency on Oct. 26 and a total of 21 parishes declared states of emergency in preparation for Zeta.
