Monitoring state level disaster recovery programs

Citizens are being fleeced each and every disaster of tax dollars allocated to assist in their recovery after a declared disaster. States that go unchecked little or no program oversight cost us millions.

By Murray Wennerlund published 1-15-2022 updated 1-15-2022

Monitoring Disaster Recovery Programs

Long term disaster recovery is the responsibility of state leadership and state managed programs to assist the citizens recover from disasters.

Citizen Disaster Recovery Programs
Business Disaster Recovery Programs
Municipality Disaster Recovery Programs
State Disaster Recovery Programs

Each program requires a budget to best server the people of the state.

Hurricane Laura Federal

Louisiana Hurricane Laura (DR-4559-LA)

Federal Resources:

Louisiana Hurricane Laura (DR-4559-LA)
FEMA Disaster Assistance Application. Be sure your parish is listed before you apply. If you are denied search this site for how to file your appeal.

Louisiana TROPICAL STORMS LAURA AND MARCO (EM-3538-LA)

We have to use the FEMA EM identifier until FEMA publishes the actual state of LA, TX, AR, MS disasters.
Incident Period: Aug 22, 2020 and continuing
Emergency Declaration declared on Aug 23, 2020

FEMA Hurricane Laura main page.

State Resources

Louisiana Get a Game Plan
Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOSHEP)
511la.org (Road closures)
Louisiana Department of Health Emergency Preparedness and Information page.
Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP)
Boards and Commissions State DOA
Louisiana DOA OCD-DRU HUD CDBG-DR Grants and long term recovery notices.
HUD CDBG-MIT Grants are processed by the Watershed Initiative created by Patrick Forbes director of the State of Louisiana OCD-DRU.

Louisiana Covid-19 (EM-3459)

Incident Period: January 20, 2020 and continuing.
Emergency Declaration declared on March 13, 2020

Louisiana Covid-19 Pandemic (DR-4484)
Incident Period: January 20, 2020 and continuing.
Major Disaster Declaration declared on March 24, 2020

State Resources

Louisiana Office of the Governor
Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Program
- Families will receive $285 in total P-EBT benefits per child. Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program. This program will provide extra help buying groceries for the families of the more than 600,000 children who normally receive free and reduced-price meals at school.

Congressional Representatives:

Congressman Steve Scalise
Congressman Garret Graves
Congressman Mike Johnson
Congressman Clay Higgins
Congressman Ralph Abraham
Rep. Cedric Richmond
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy
Senator John Kennedy
Governor John Bel Edwards

Federal Resources

FEMA Public Assistance -

Louisiana Timeline

03/13/20

March

Proclamation 9994

Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak

03/18/20

March

H.R.6201

H.R.6201 - Families First Coronavirus Response Act. 03/18/2020 Became Public Law No: 116-127

03/27/20

March

H.R.748

H.R.748 - CARES Act 03/27/2020 Became Public Law No: 116-136

04/09/20

April

Economic Injury for the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Disaster Declarations of Economic Injury for the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Administrative Declarations of Economic Injury Disasters for the Entire United States and U.S. Territories

05/12/20

May

SBA 15 USC 636

15 USC 636: Additional powers May 12, 2020 From Title 15-COMMERCE AND TRADE CHAPTER 14A-AID TO SMALL BUSINESS

05/15/20

May

BILLS 116 HR 6800 Vote

Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act or the HEROES Act.

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Restore Louisiana Hurricane Ida processing grinds to a stop over Environmental Reviews not being processed.

Your Environmental Impact and Review Report has to be completed before your state can calculate your HUD CDBG-DR grant. Who is responsible for Environmental Review and Impact Reports for Hurricane Ida households and why are they delayed by months?

By Murray Wennerlund published 3-29-2023 updated 3-29-2023
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Restore LA OCD-DRU Official Elevation Allowance Calculator for approved elevation reimbursement

Disaster victims that were forced to demolish their homes and elevate above Base Flood Elevation plus 2 feet were sent a Restore LA OCD-DRU Solution 2 Reconstruction and Elevation Allowance calculator.

By Murray Wennerlund published 11-1-2022 updated 11-1-2022
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Restore Louisiana Interior and exterior 504/ADA accommodations, you must plan ahead to receive them.

After the 2016 floods many households that required ADA accommodations found themselves being denied by case managers of the Restore Louisiana Homeowners Program because of documentation. The state after 6 years seems to have fixed the bureaucracy a bit.

By Murray Wennerlund published 10-21-2022 updated 10-21-2022
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Rental assistance is available to those facing financial hardship due to a declared disaster

During disasters you may find yourself in financial hardship due to the loss of income during the disaster period or you are paying for secondary housing while your primary location is being repaired.

By Murray Wennerlund published 10-5-2022 updated 10-5-2022
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Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) for Independent Contractors, Self-Employed and others

If you are unable to work after your area was impacted by a federally declared major or severe disaster you are most likely eligible for unemployment compensation even if you havent paid for unemployment compensation while self employed.

By Murray Wennerlund published 10-4-2022 updated 10-4-2022
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Restore Louisiana Homeowner Program OCD-DRU Grant Recapture Procedures

The State of Louisiana has been perfecting recapture processes since Hurricane Katrina. Recaptured funds from homeowners means more to the state coffers and more disaster debt to homeowners. Learn the signs you are at risk of recapture before it happens.

By Murray Wennerlund published 9-25-2022 updated 9-29-2022
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Ineligible Due to Non-Responsiveness and Ineligible Due to Failure to Provide Required Documentation

HUD CDBG-DR Grants for Disaster Recovery You have the right to appeal. Your state will list how many days you have to respond to any communications.

By Murray Wennerlund published 8-14-2022 updated 8-14-2022
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Does the Restore Louisiana OCD-DRU HUD Grant program offer a Scheduled Draw payment?

HUD CDBG-DR Grants designed to be distributed as a drawdown to funds allocated for rebuilding are now only used to reimburse expenses of finished repairs. This is to reduce 0.4 fraudulent use of grant funds by creating income segregation.

By Murray Wennerlund published 8-14-2022 updated 9-25-2022
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How to Fail Your Municipality's Residential Slab Pre-Pour Inspection.

By Murray Wennerlund 11-20-2024

Here are some key points and the most common reasons why residential slab pre-pour fail, according to municipal inspectors:

Why Hiring a Licensed Contractor in Louisiana May Actually Harm Homeowners More Than Help.

By Murray Wennerlund 11-18-2024

You've most likely heard all the hype: hire a licensed contractor and verify their license with the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, LSLBC for short. The state says this protects you from unlicensed contractors.

Ensuring Quality: Navigating Contractor Selection and Avoiding Labor Brokers.

By Murray Wennerlund 11-18-2024

Learn effective methods for selecting quality contractors and avoiding labor brokers in home construction. Manage home repair and reconstruction projects efficiently, ensuring skilled trades and maintaining oversight for high-quality results.

Monitoring Disaster Recovery Programs

Hurricane Laura Federal

State Resources

Louisiana Covid-19 (EM-3459)

Louisiana Timeline

03/13/20

March

03/18/20

March

03/27/20

March

04/09/20

April

05/12/20

May

05/15/20

May