(The Center Square) – Additional federal aid is needed for Louisiana to recover from a storm that hammered the northern part of the state with ice, extreme cold and widespread utility outages in January, according to the state’s congressional delegation.
The delegation said it supports Gov. Jeff Landry’s request for more assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, arguing the state has already racked up more than $11.39 million in storm-related costs.
FEMA earlier this month awarded the state $3.75 million, along with Tennessee and Mississippi, to recoup the costs of planning for the storm and short-term recovery efforts.
In a Jan. 10 letter to President Donald Trump, the Louisiana delegation asked for an expedited major disaster declaration that would offer longer-term resources for nine parishes – Bienville, DeSoto, East Carroll, Franklin, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas and West Carroll. The congressmen requested help paying for debris removal and infrastructure restoration, hazard mitigation and requested that FEMA cover the total cost of disaster response for 30 days.
The congressmen also urged the White House to add funding for individual assistance, saying preliminary damage assessments indicate the parishes could qualify.
The lawmakers said the storm knocked out power to more than 175,000 residential customers, disrupted hospitals and nursing homes that had to rely on generators, closed schools and businesses and shut down Interstate 20 and other highways for several days.
They also cited damage to water systems that left 32,487 customers without water and put as many as 187,359 residents under boil-water advisories.
Their letter notes the Small Business Administration has recognized the storm’s economic impact and is offering Economic Injury Disaster Loans in 19 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes.
The letter is signed by Sens. Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy, House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Reps. Troy Carter, Julia Letlow, Clay Higgins and Cleo Fields.
