Hurricane Ida recovery update - Monday, October 25 - L'Observateur

Hurricane Ida recovery update – Monday, October 25

Published 4:09 pm Monday, October 25, 2021

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LAPLACE — St. John the Baptist Parish issued the following Hurricane Ida recovery updates for Monday, October 25, 2021.

Debris Collection

Parish President Jaclyn Hotard continues to work with the debris contractor on debris collection Parishwide. To date, more than 729,000 cubic yards of debris has been collected in St. John Parish and over 13,000 loads hauled. Parish officials understand that some residents are just beginning to work on their homes and will continue debris collection daily until all debris is picked up.
The Parish is also working closely with State DOTD on debris removal on state highways. DOTD recently activated a call center for questions related to Hurricane debris on state roadways at 800-950-2732. This call center is operating daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. State debris removal progress can also be seen at www.511la.org.

Temporary Housing

The Hurricane Ida State Sheltering Program offers non-congregate sheltering which may include hotels, base camps, recreational vehicles (RVs) and travel trailers.
To register for the program or find out what sheltering options are available, visit IdaShelteringla.com or call (844) 268-0301 or for TTY services call (844) 458-1806.

FEMA

The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is October 28, 2021, unless the deadline is extended. Please visit disasterassistance.gov, call 800-621-3362 or visit one of the FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers daily from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. to apply or ask questions regarding application:
Frazee-Harris Memorial Library (parking lot)
111Historic Front Street, Garyville, LA 70051
Roland Borne, Sr. Memorial Library (parking lot)
2979 LA-18, Edgard, LA 70049

What should I expect after I apply?

After applying at DisasterAssistance.gov, FEMA may contact you to schedule an assessment of damage to your home and essential personal property. If you reported that you are not able to live at home because of damage caused by the earthquake, FEMA will contact you to schedule an appointment for a home assessment.

Once the assessment is complete, FEMA will review the information provided. You will receive a letter by mail or an email (depending on your preference) notifying you to check your DisasterAssistance.gov account, which outlines FEMA’s decisions about your request for assistance.

Beware of Fraud and Scams
1. Property Inspections:
No government disaster assistance official will call you to ask for your financial account information. If you doubt a FEMA representative is legitimate, hang up and call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to report the incident. FEMA Housing inspectors never charge a fee to inspect your property.

2. Building Contractors:
FEMA does not hire or endorse specific contractors to fix homes or recommend repairs. A FEMA housing inspector’s job is to verify damage. Always hire a reputable engineer, architect or building official to inspect your home. An unethical contractor may create damage to get work. When in doubt, report any suspicious behavior to your local authorities.

3. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance:
Federal and local disaster workers do not solicit or accept money. Don’t trust anyone who offers financial help and then asks for money or personal information. Do not disclose information to any unsolicited telephone calls and e-mails from individuals claiming to be FEMA or federal employees. FEMA will not contact you unless you have called FEMA first or applied for assistance.
FEMA representatives will ask for social security and bank account numbers when you apply and may ask for it again after you apply. Be cautious when giving this information to others who ask for it. Scam artists may pose as government officials, aid workers, or insurance company employees. Ask to see ID badges. All FEMA representatives carry an identification badge with a photograph. A FEMA shirt or jacket is not proof of identity.

To report scams, fraud and identity-theft contact:
FEMA’s toll-free Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721
Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection Section, P.O. Box 94005, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9005, fax: 225-326-6499;
Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors at https://arlspublic.lslbc.louisiana.gov/Home/Index; or Local law-enforcement agencies.

Operation Blue Roof

More than 1,700 blue roofs have been installed in St. John Parish to date. If you have questions or concerns regarding your Blue Roof installation, please call 1-888-766-3258.

Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance

SBA offers disaster assistance in the form of low interest loans to businesses, nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters located in regions affected by declared disasters. SBA also provides eligible small businesses and nonprofit organizations with working capital to help overcome the economic injury of a declared disaster.
You can call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or visit www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance for more information on SBA disaster assistance or to apply.
The SBA Recovery Center is open on in St. John Parish on Mondays – Wednesdays, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. at River Region Chamber of Commerce – 390 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace.

Insurance Information

Do you have a Hurricane Ida claim dispute with your insurance company? The Louisiana Department of Insurance announced a new program to help: http://ldi.la.gov/news/press-releases/10.19.21-commissioner-donelon-unveils-hurricane-ida-mediation-program-to-resolve-claim-disputes

Garbage

Metro is working to return to regularly scheduled routes. More information at https://metroservicegroup.com/.

Disaster Unemployment

Are you out of work due to Hurricane Ida? Follow these 4 steps to connect with disaster relief job opportunities. Click the link to start the application process http://ow.ly/Wk8g50GncsXElderly Assistance
Residents who need elderly assistance should call the Department of Health & Human Services at 985-536-4955 during business hours, 8am-4:30pm daily.

Permits

Permit fees for repairs and renovations due to hurricane damage have been waived until February 28, 2022.Building permits are not needed for the following types of work:
Shingles, Sheetrock, Cabinetry, Flooring, Fencing, Doors, Siding, Trim and Painting.
Permits are only needed when structural repairs are made to the framing, roof, or electrical components of the house.
If you have any questions, please contact the Planning and Zoning Department at 985-651-5565.

Safe Reconnect

If you sustained damage to your home or business electrical and/or gas systems and the utility was not able to reconnect service, please contact Planning & Zoning at Email safereconnect@stjohn-la.gov or call 985-651-5565.

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