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50^ VOL. 122, NO. 78
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2005
www.sunherald.com
Homeowner grants pending
Some may receive $150,000
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JACKSON — A bill pending in Congress would establish grants of up to $150,000 for some whose homes were left uninhabitable by Hurricane Katrina, Gov. Haley Barbour says.
The grants are part of the $29 billion hurricane-recovery package that’s included in a defense spending
bill. The measure passed the House early Monday and awaits a vote in the Senate, possibly this week.
The govemoij said the grants would be crucial to teas of thousands of people whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged on the Mississippi Gulf Coast
The grants will be handled by the state development authority, and Barbour said he expects it will be several
To track the defense bill's progress in Congress go to www.sunherald.com
weeks before applications can be accepted.
Barbour said grants would be available only for owner-occupied homes, not for second homes or rental property. Also, people could get grants only for homes that flooded even
though the homes were outside the federally designated flood zone when the hurricane hit Grant recipients also must have had other homeowners’ insurance.
Please see Grants, A-6
By the
numbers
Here is a breakdown of the appropriations earmarked for Mississippi to help in recovering from Hurricane Katrina.
“This is a big victory for Katrina disaster victims," said Sen. Thad Cochran, Appropriations chairman.
The needs addressed by the Cochran legislation that were not addressed in the president’s initial request include: funding for the Community Development Block Grant Program, assistance for education needs, and funding for state and local law enforcement. The funding is provided from previously appropriated FEMA money and a slim across-the-board cut to all FY 2006 discretionary spending.
m billion
Community Development Block Grants
Relief efforts and mitigation activities, including housing assistance, infrastructure development and assistance to public services. Much of this money will be used by Gov. Haley Barbour to provide assistance to homeowners whose homes were destroyed due to the storm surge.
$125 million
State and Local Law Enforcement
Includes the hiring of additional officers in areas that have experienced a sudden population increase due to hurricane evacuees. The money may also be used to replace equipment that was damaged, lost or destroyed by the hurricane.
$441 million
Small Business
Administration Disaster Loan Program
Provides loans to businesses and homeowners who have sustained physical damage and economic injury, and for costs associated with
REBUIlllNG U.S. 90 AND ITS BRIDGES
$740 million
DAVID PURDY/SUN HERALD
A man walks on wlii used to be Beach Boulevard near the comer of Main Street in Bay St. Louis.
BILOXI HAtBOR NAVIGATION REPAIRS
Bridge work back on track, MDOT hopes
By DON HAMMACK
dthammack@sunherald.com
With Congress apparently on the way to fully funding Mississippi’s transportation-related Katrina relief needs, MDOT is looking forward to getting its construction projects back on track.
Foot-dragging in Washington earlier this month forced Mississippi Department of Transportation officials to put off for a month the awarding of contracts to rebuild two key U.S. 90 bridges. The weekend’s developments help put that
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