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FEMA to pay longer for evacuees still in hotels
Date: 11/22/2005
FEMA to pay longer for evacuees still in hotels
(Washington-AP) November 22, 2005 - The federal government is extending its hotel housing program by more than one month in ten states affected by Hurricane Katrina and Rita.
People in Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, California, Tennessee, Arkansas and Nevada now have until January 7th before FEMA stops paying their hotel bills.
The previous deadline of December 1st had drawn criticism as being unfair to displaced evacuees, especially as the holidays approach.
Hurricane Katrina slammed parts of the Gulf coast in late August. Rita made landfall in southeast Texas on September 24th. FEMA officials said more than 46,000 households relocated to Georgia from Louisiana and Mississippi. Two weeks ago, there were an estimated 3,600 evacuee families still in temporary housing in the state.
Officials estimate more than 50,000 displaced people are still in Texas hotels and motels.
Posted 3:55pm by Bryce Mursch