BATON ROUGE - A top aide to Gov. John Bel Edwards says the Shelter at Home program has "ramped up" in recent days.

Julie Baxter Payer and others, including officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, issued an update on the flood recovery.

Payer touted the Shelter at Home program, which allows families to stay in damaged homes during repairs if the work needed to remain there costs less than $15,000.

Single-family homeowners are eligible for work like repairs to kitchen sinks, shower tubs, exterior door replacements and bathroom privacy walls.

About 19,000 people have applied for the assistance.

Payer says the program began less than three weeks ago and is moving faster than any previous such aid after a storm.