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First look at temporary FEMA homes for La. flood victims

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BATON ROUGE - Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced the "Shelter at Home" disaster recovery program Wednesday.

According to Edwards, FEMA will fund up to $15,000 to render a home "safe, secure and habitable." The program will only be eligible to people who's homes can be restored to basic living condition, for $15,000 or less.

The governor also announced two other interim housing options for flood victims. Those programs include U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development approved mobile homes. Edwards said FEMA "trailers" available to flooded families will be "very different" than those used following Hurricane Katrina.

Those FEMA homes will be available to families with homes facing more than $17,000 in damages. However, those FEMA homes will not be able to be placed in flood zones. 

Edwards says FEMA is expecting to use manufactured homes and is currently looking for commercial sites to place makeshift mobile home parks.

Officials say 119,000 households have registered with FEMA for federal emergency aid. Edwards says he expects that number to continue to rise.

More than $132 million in aid has been approved by FEMA in grants for temporary rental assistance, home repairs and other diaster response aid.

GOHSEP and FEMA do not sell or provide mold certificates and never charge survivors for any services.

FEMA offers two other emergency housing programs: Rental Assistance and Transitional Shelter Assitance:

Residents who look to take advantage of Rental Assistance must first apply for FEMA assistance. An inspector will come to the home and determine that the home can't be lived in. FEMA will then provide temporary housing in a place to live that is available to rent. Assitance can last up to two months or longer.

Residents who look to take advantage Transitional Shelter Assitance must also apply for FEMA. Those residents do not need to wait for a FEMA housing inspector and can take temporary shelter in a hotel or motel. Questions about Transitional Shelter assistance can be answered by calling 1-800-621-3362.

Meanwhile, nearly 27,000 claims have been filed with the National Flood Insurance Program, and state officials say $37 million in advance payments have been approved for flood insurance policyholders.

A storm that began Aug. 12 dumped as much as 2 feet of water in some areas within 48 hours, causing widespread damage that Edwards says impacted more than 100,000 homes.

For information on getting assistance visit www.disasterassistance.gov

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