April 8, 2013
Joint Field Office: Baton Rouge
DR-4080-LA NR-223
News Desk: 877-730-1838
Recovery News
Louisiana Hurricane Isaac Survivors Offered Free One-on-One Assistance
BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana’s Hurricane Isaac survivors who have serious unmet needs
even after receiving state and federal disaster assistance can get additional help through a free,
one-on-one support program. The program pairs survivors with a case manager whose sole job is
to help them through the recovery process.
Administered by the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, the Disaster Case
Management Program is now available to survivors in the 26 parishes designated for Individual
Assistance for the Hurricane Isaac disaster. The Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) awarded an $8 million grant to the state to fully fund the program.
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans is running the program, which ends Aug. 29,
2014. Survivors may call 1-866-891-2210 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
After hours, they may leave a message for a return phone call.
The program helps survivors address unmet needs for longer-term housing, medical supplies,
food, clothing, affordable furniture, crisis counseling and much more. FEMA’s volunteer agency
liaisons are providing case managers with training on the agency’s protocols to ensure a
smoother path for survivors and their case managers.
“Sometimes survivors need a little extra help navigating the system, and it’s important for the
whole recovery community to support and empower them,” said Federal Coordinating Officer
Gerard M. Stolar of FEMA. “Disaster case managers are capable, understanding professionals
who can put survivors together with the right resources to meet their specific recovery needs.”
In the program, case managers assess hurricane survivors’ unmet needs and help them develop a
goal-oriented plan for recovery. Case managers then match survivors’ essential needs to
available resources in the area, monitor their progress toward reaching recovery goals and, when
necessary, offer survivor advocacy.
The program is available to Hurricane Isaac survivors in Allen, Ascension, Assumption, East
Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Morehouse, Orleans,
Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Martin,
St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington, West Baton Rouge and West
Feliciana parishes.
More information on Louisiana disaster recovery is available online at
www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.gov. FEMA is also on Twitter at
twitter.com/femaregion6 and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMA.
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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age,
disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated
against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work
together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover
from, and mitigate all hazards.