Press Releases
Date: 9/14/2005
Contact: Denise Bottcher or Roderick Hawkins at 225-342-9037
Louisiana's Road to Recovery: By the Numbers
Baton Rouge, LA-- The State of Louisiana is coordinating with various local, state and federal agencies to meet the immediate and long term needs of citizens that were affected by Hurricane Katrina. Key facts and figures detailing Louisiana's road to recovery are outlined below.
Critical Operations
The LA Department of Transportation & Development estimates more than 1.2 million people were evacuated from the metro New Orleans area between 9 am Saturday and 5 pm Sunday following Governor Blanco's State of Emergency declaration on Friday, August 26th, three days prior to the landfall of Hurricane Katrina.
The Department of Wildlife & Fisheries estimates more than 21,000 lives have been saved through DWLF coordinated search and rescue operations.
With LSU and other agencies, the LA Department of Health & Hospitals fully evacuated more than 10,000 patients and caregivers in all the hospitals throughout the greater New Orleans area.
During the evacuation of the Greater New Orleans area, the State of Louisiana coordinated the use of more than 400 busses from schools and municipalities across the state to transport more than 11,000 evacuees.
This number is expected to grow as parishes across Louisiana are still reporting.
To date, the National Guard has delivered
- More than 804,000 meals
- More than 1 million liters of water
- More than 477,000 pounds of ice
*DHH also set up a network of health care providers throughout the state to treat evacuated patients.
Boots on the Ground
The 14th day since Hurricane Katrina hit, the Louisiana National Guard has more than doubled its military forces in Louisiana.
There are approximately 25,000 troops currently stationed throughout Louisiana.
- Approximately 5,000 LANG soldiers
- An additional 20,000 other troops from all over the country
The Guard's primary missions include:
- Saving lives
o Search and rescue operations
o The delivery of critical resources to displaced citizens
- Enforcing security
- Evacuating residents
- Supporting existing critical infrastructures
Emergency Medical Assistance
To date, DHH has triaged more than 20,000 patients through special triage hospitals in Baton Rouge and Thibodaux.
To date, DHH has handled requests from more than 2,000 medical volunteers (doctors, nurses, medical supplies) to come to affected areas and help.
. DHH Offices* are providing more than 350 counseling hours-per-day to the Special Needs Shelter population which was over 1,000 persons-per-day at the height and is currently running 650 - 700 people-per-day.
*Office of Mental Health and the Human Service Districts and Authorities
Support Services
DSS has processed approximately 250,000 emergency food stamps for a total of $80.7 million in benefits.
DSS has also coordinated a total of 340 general population shelters (in-state) plus 8 special needs shelters, housing more than 60,000 displaced citizens.
To date, the Louisiana Department of Labor has collected more than 119,000 unemployment claims from persons in Louisiana who lost their jobs because of Katrina. Another 60,000 have also been collected in other states.
Support Services (CONTD)
To date, the Louisiana State Police (LSP) has supplied thousands of local, state and federal support vehicles traveling into affected areas with more than 48,700 gallons of gasoline.
LSP also estimates it has assisted more than 750 support vehicles on critical missions throughout Louisiana. Some critical missions include: escorting emergency equipment vehicles into and out of affected areas and escorting busses transporting evacuees from the Greater New Orleans area to shelters throughout Louisiana and beyond.
Reuniting Families
Working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, DSS has reunited 50 children with their families or legal guardians.
Through the Find Family Call Center, DHH has reunited 18 displaced citizens with their family members and received more than 800 calls to date.
Economic Development
46,000 SBA business and home loan applications have been received from Louisiana citizens and are being processed in partnership with the LA Department of Economic Development.
Approximately 5,000 loans are being processed per day.
LED has serviced 4,198 business relocation requests through AccessLouisiana.
Louisiana Colleges & Universities
More than 6,500 students displaced by Hurricane Katrina have re-registered at public and private Louisiana colleges and universities.
Breakdown of re-registers by University:
Louisiana State University - 3,285
Grambling University- 50
Louisiana Tech University- 350
McNeese University- 200
NIcholls State University- 700
Northwestern Louisiana University - 150
Southeastern Louisiana University- 1,000
University of Louisiana at Lafayette - 700
University of Louisiana at Monroe - 200
Additional DHH Medical Services
. DHH has established 14 response teams across Louisiana (2 in 7 regions) providing social services such as mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment or therapeutic services to evacuees in need.
. Working with various other state and federal agencies, DHH is updating the drinking water quality for more than 500 water systems impacted by the storm.
. DHH has provided first-responder crisis mental health counseling to its staff working around the clock at more than 17 locations around the state.
DHH has also provided first responder services to:
- Bus drivers transporting evacuees
- Coast Guard search and rescue personnel
- Fire services personnel & boat fleet operators
- Wildlife and fisheries personnel
- Security services & other law enforcement personnel throughout the declared parishes.
*This information was submitted by various state agencies and compiled by the Governor's Office.*
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Press Releases
Date: 9/14/2005
Contact: Denise Bottcher or Roderick Hawkins at 225-342-9037
Arrival of Temporary Housing Helps Restart Operations at Essential Louisiana Businesses
Governor Blanco's efforts place 338 temporary housing trailers at work sites
Baton Rouge, La. - September 13, 2005 - Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco announced today that temporary housing units have been provided to essential businesses impacted by Hurricane Katrina to facilitate their return to production. Over the past three days, 330 temporary housing units have been delivered to gasoline refineries, natural gas plants and petrochemical facilities throughout Louisiana's impacted river region.
Under Governor Blanco's direction, Louisiana Economic Development (LED) coordinated the effort between the state, FEMA and FEMA's service provider Fluor to help make it possible for employees to return to work. Gov. Blanco eliminated legal, administrative and logistical hurdles so these businesses could return to operation as quickly as possible to alleviate the strain on the nation's economy.
"The impact of this storm on Louisiana's businesses is being felt all over the globe," said Gov. Blanco. "This vital effort will put displaced Louisiana citizens back to work and ultimately provide some relief for all Americans when they visit the gas pump over the coming weeks."
LED is delivering all FEMA housing trailers to impacted businesses. Each unit can house four workers. These trailers have been arriving at refineries and plants throughout the region by a constant supply of convoys. To date, 526 requests have been made for these accommodations.
"This is a significant step in the positive economic recovery from the storm for Louisiana and the country," said Secretary Michael J. Olivier, Louisiana Economic Development. "Every trailer that LED delivers means four more Louisianans can return home to a well-paying job and more of our nation's vital resources can be put into production."
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