PRESS RELEASE

Governor Jindal Sends Letter to President Requesting Expedited Major Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Ike
BATON ROUGE (September 12, 2008) - Today, Governor Bobby Jindal sent a letter to President Bush requesting an expedited major disaster declaration for Hurricane Ike.

GOVERNOR’S REQUEST EXPEDITED MAJOR DISASTER  

September 12, 2008

The President
The White House
Washington, DC

Through:           William E. Peterson
                        Regional Administrator
                        FEMA Region 6
                        Denton, Texas 76209

Dear Mr. President:

Under the provisions of Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5207 (Stafford Act), and implemented by 44 CFR § 206.36, I request that you declare an expedited major disaster for the State of Louisiana as a result of  Hurricane Ike beginning September 11, 2008, and continuing for the following sixty-four parishes:

Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo,  Calcasieu, Caldwell, Cameron, Catahoula, Claiborne, Concordia, Desoto, East Baton Rouge, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Franklin, Grant, Iberia, Iberville, Jackson, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, LaSalle, Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Orleans, Ouachita, Pointe Coupee, Plaquemines, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Landry, St. Mary, St. Martin,  St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Tensas, Terrebonne, Union, Vermilion, Vernon, Washington,  Webster, West Baton Rouge, West Carroll, West Feliciana and Winn.

In response to the situation, I have taken appropriate action under State law and directed the execution of the State Emergency Plan on September 7, 2008 in accordance with Section 401 of the Stafford Act. An Emergency Declaration was declared on September 11, 2008 for the parishes of Calcasieu, Cameron,

Jefferson Davis, and Vermillion for Public Assistance Category B, and Direct Federal Assistance.

In addition I am requesting an increase in the Federal cost share from 75/25 to 100%.

The Standard State Hazard Mitigation Plan has been for 2008.  The plan meets the requirements for a Standard Mitigation State Plan consistent with 44 CFR § 201.4 and the State is eligible to receive HMGP funds based on 15 percent of the total estimated eligible Stafford Act disaster assistance.

I have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and the affected local governments and that supplementary Federal assistance is necessary.  I am specifically requesting:  Individual Assistance to include the Individuals and households program (IHP), Disaster Unemployment Assistance, and Crisis Counseling; Public Assistance; Hazard Mitigation; small Business Administration loans for the sixty-four parishes named above.  I am requesting Hazard Mitigation statewide.

The following information is furnished on the nature and amount of State and local resources that have been or will be used to alleviate the conditions of this disaster:

• Activated a Hurricane Ike Task Force to plan for the evacuation and sheltering of our citizens due to the wind, surge, and rain effects on the State of Louisiana;
• Have extended the bus contract used for Hurricane Gustav to provide evacuation assistance as related to Ike;
• The State has just expended tremendous resources in preparation and response to hurricane Gustav as well as committing resources to the recovery of that disaster; and
• The full implementation of the full resources of all State agencies is underway is response to the threats of hurricane Ike on the Louisiana coast.

I certify that for this major disaster, the State and local governments will assume all applicable non-Federal share of costs required by the Stafford Act.

I request direct Federal assistance for work and services to save lives and protect property.

In accordance with 44 CFR § 206.208, the State of Louisiana agrees that it will, with respect to direct Federal assistance:

1. Provide without cost to the United States all lands, easements and rights-of-ways necessary to accomplish the approved work;
2. Hold and save the United States free from damages due to the requested work, and shall indemnify the Federal Government against any claims arising from such work;
3. Provide reimbursement to FEMA for the non-Federal share of the cost of such work in accordance with the provisions of the FEMA-State Agreement; and
4. Assist the performing Federal agency in all support and local jurisdictional matters.

In addition, I anticipate the need for debris removal, which poses an immediate threat to lives, public health, and safety.

Pursuant to Sections 403 and 407 of the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5170b & 5173, the State agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the United States of America for any claims arising from the removal of debris or wreckage for this disaster.  The State agrees that debris removal from public and private property will not occur until the landowner signs an unconditional authorization for the removal of debris.

I have designated Mark Cooper as the Governor’s Authorized Representative (GAR) and Fred Palmer as the Alternate GAR.  I have designated Mark Riley as the State Coordinating Officer (SCO) and Mark DeBosier as the Alternate SCO.  As the State Coordinating Officer for this request, He will work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in damage assessment and may provide further information or justification on my behalf.

Sincerely,

Bobby Jindal
Governor

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