President extends period for full funding on post-Ida assistance

Gov. John Bel Edwards received notice late Friday that President Joe Biden has approved his request for an additional 15 days at 100 percent federal funding for Public Assistance Category A, Debris Removal, and Category B, Emergency Protective Measures for both Hurricanes Ida and Laura.

The declaration includes Iberville Parish, along with Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberia, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana.

In addition, Biden increased the overall federal cost share to 90 percent for FEMA Public Assistance funding for Hurricane Ida. 

“I am grateful to President Biden and his administration for approval of this cost share adjustment that will continue to provide much needed assistance in the many areas of our state that have been devastated by both of these major storms,” Edwards said. “It is a meaningful and important step to help communities across our state recover as much work remains to be done. Thousands of Louisianans have been deeply impacted by Hurricanes Ida this year and Laura last year, and it will take local, state and federal partners working together to help our communities rebuild stronger.”

Both Hurricane Ida and Laura made landfall as destructive Category 4 storms. Ida struck Louisiana on Aug. 29, and Hurricane Laura made landfall on Aug. 27, 2020. Both storms are among the strongest to ever hit Louisiana with damaging winds, flooding and strong storm surge damaging and destroying thousands of homes and businesses.