Hurricane Gustav Downgraded to Tropical Depression

 

 

 

Images of the calamity of Hurricane Katrina replayed in the minds of the public as Hurricane Gustav made its way through the Gulf Coast over the weekend. Though the damage from the 110 mph winds was nowhere close to the aftermath of Katrina, residents were still forced to evacuate, fearing the worst.

Millions fled the Gulf Coast in fear of Gustav, which New Orleans, Louisiana Mayor Ray Nagin characterized as the “mother of all storms.” The storm, thankfully, didn’t live up to the hype.

Gustav was downgraded from a Category 4 hurricane to a tropical depression Monday.

Unlike in 2005, New Orleans’ levees held, and Gustav struck only a glancing blow, according to the Associated Press. But when trees fell on homes, power lines went down, and roads were washed out, there was no one around to get hurt.

An evacuated New Orleans is not expected to be safe enough to reopen until Thursday at the earliest. The potential of greater flooding still looms as the National Hurricane Center reports that some regions of the Gulf are expected to be sloshed with 20 inches of rain by Thursday. In addition, there is still concern for Hurricane Hanna, which is currently battering Haiti, and three more months remain in the Atlantic storm season.

There were at least eight deaths caused by Gustav. More than 1,600 people were killed when Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005.

While there is no fighting Mother Nature, there are a number of resources available to help you and your business recover from a natural disaster.

In the Gulf region, the Red Cross is already on the scene providing shelter, food, counseling, and other assistance.

As government officials urge you to flea your home for safety, a limited income may make affording to travel difficult. But it’s not impossible. The Federal Emergency Management Administration has set up the Individual Housing Program, which provides funding for temporary housing.

Elizabeth Childs, a spokesperson for Federal Emergency Management Administration, says it is important to contact your local government to find out what programs or funds are available to help with the costs of evacuating.

Residents of disaster-struck areas must register with FEMA by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or visiting the Website at www.fema.gov.

“We send someone out to assess the damage, and we determine what their needs are,” Childs says. “From there, FEMA will determine the types of loans and grants victims will be eligible for. The grants are capped at $28,000.”

Once it is declared safe to return to your home, FEMA’s Individual Housing Program provides funding for temporary housing.

If you need to rebuild your home, or fix your rental home, FEMA and the Small Business Administration (SBA) work in conjunction to provide low interest loans and grants to help defray the cost of rebuilding.

“[The SBA] makes disaster loans for up to $200,000 and then the homeowner can also

borrow up to $40,000 to replace and repair personal property that was damaged during the disaster,” says Carol Chastang, a spokesperson for the SBA. “The physical damage disaster loan can be used to repair real estate or personal property that’s not fully covered by insurance, including clothes, furniture, appliances, and in the case of businesses, machinery and inventory.”

As of Aug. 11, the interest rate on the SBA’s disaster relief loans for homeowners and renters was 2.875%. The interest rate for business owners was 4% for up to a 30-year term. Businesses of any size can borrow up to $2 million on a SBA disaster recovery loan.

Chastang urges applicants to contact FEMA first so that potential applicants don’t miss out on other forms of aid, including state and federal. Potential borrowers will be referred to the SBA if necessary. If the SBA determines that an applicant cannot afford a loan, FEMA will provide “Other Needs Assistance” in the form of funding for repairing or replacing personal property such as household items and clothes. ONA also covers transportation and medical expenses among other needs.

Documentation is key. FEMA requires individuals to provide paperwork in order to evaluate eligibility. This means proof of occupancy, ownership, income, and loss. But with the chaos that can occur in the wake of a natural disaster, FEMA and the SBA will work with victims to ensure they receive the help they need.

“We have means to work with the IRS and some local agencies to secure records,” Chastang says.

Cindy McCain, wife of Sen. John McCain, urged attendees of the Republican National Convention and others to visit CauseGreater.com to donate to hurricane relief efforts. You can also text 2HELP, using the keyword GIVE, to donate using your cell phone. Sen. Barack Obama has urged supporters to donate $5 by texting GIVE to 24357, and to donate time and money to the relief effort.