Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to Louisiana businesses and residents as a result of President Biden’s major disaster declaration, U.S. Small Business Administration’s Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced.

Louisiana renters who face eviction or have been evicted from their storm-damaged home or apartment complex, whether their unit had damage or not, may be eligible for disaster assistance from FEMA.

Today, the City of New Orleans outlined a near-term plan aimed at solving the solid waste management crisis that is plaguing our neighborhoods. Following an insufficient response to a nationwide emergency procurement for additional solid waste collection, the City is pushing forward with a multi-pronged approach to alleviate the trash build up throughout the city, leveraging resources from internal City departments and partner agencies, as well as operational Mardi Gras clean up expertise. 

The U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has declared a disaster in New Orleans due to Hurricane Ida. The City of New Orleans Office of Economic Development held a webinar on disaster assistance for businesses from the SBA on Friday, September 10 at 11am. 

Beginning this morning at 11 a.m., the City of New Orleans Department of Sanitation will allow residents to dispose of bagged household garbage at the Elysian Fields Transfer Station free of charge temporarily while we work to increase sanitation contractor capacity.

DSNAP, formerly known as Disaster Food Stamps, provides food assistance to eligible households who do not receive regular SNAP benefits and who need help buying groceries due to lost income or damages following a disaster. The virtual application process will run over three weeks, beginning September 20.

Today, NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) restarted school-based COVID-19 testing that will provide testing at 91 school sites this week to help ensure the health and safety of our school community, as students start heading back to school this week.

As Louisiana homeowners and renters affected by Hurricane Ida begin receiving their FEMA disaster funds, it is important to use the money for specified disaster-related expenses.

FEMA helps survivors keep their spending on track by sending a determination letter stating what the funds are for and listing the ways the money can be used. Disaster grants are not for regular living expenses.

All survivors who apply for FEMA assistance will receive a letter from FEMA stating an eligibility decision and the reason for it. Survivors can also check the status of their applications online at DisasterAssistance.gov, which is the fastest way to get information to and from FEMA. Each application is processed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis, so be sure to read your letter very carefully and respond if necessary. If you do not agree with the decision in the determination letter, you may appeal.

Please see the following statement from Mayor Cantrell on the current efforts to remove trash:

"Like the rest of our residents, I am seeing first-hand that trash is gathering in many parts of the city. I understand the impacts the solid waste industry shortage is having on the ground and in our neighborhoods, which was a serious challenge before Hurricane Ida and an even greater challenge after the storm. But I want our residents to know that my team and I are doing everything possible to build capacity to rid our city streets of trash for good."