FEMA Tours Caldwell Parish Flood Damage
By: Meagan Fitzgerald
Updated: November 19, 2009
This is what many homes along the Ouachita River bank in Caldwell Parish look like.
Dale Powell is the director of Homeland Security in Caldwell Parish, he said "What happened is the river has taken over this territory and washed out their front yard they don't have a front yard."
And this is exactly what FEMA and state officials came to the parish to see. Officials had their note pads and special devices out to record the type of damage done in the area. Homeland security officials say for many homes the real damage is on the way.
Dale Powell said, "Where we are right now used to be these peoples front yard, but of course it's filled with water and as the water levels continue to fall, these peoples home might fall into the water."
So how can FEMA help? Officials say they'll submit all of their notes to the governor, then he'll send the information to the president in what's called a presidential declaration. If the president says the area is natural disaster FEMA can cut checks to people who qualify.
Charles Powell is a spokesman for FEMA and he said, "If any of these homes do slide off into the river and are completely destroyed once a declaration has been declared inspectors would come in and say this house is completely destroyed, this person is eligible for the maximum assistance."
And for the homes that don't fall in, those folks could also get federal dollars.
Charles Powell said, "In this situation here in this neighborhood there road is flooded, they had to evacuate, they can't live there they are getting expenses to house themselves for this period of time, if there is a declaration, FEMA will help them with those expenses."
But, that's only if and when the governor and the president approve.
Dale Powell said, "So we asking FEMA's help for these people, help, they're desperate for help."
Dale Powell is the director of Homeland Security in Caldwell Parish, he said "What happened is the river has taken over this territory and washed out their front yard they don't have a front yard."
And this is exactly what FEMA and state officials came to the parish to see. Officials had their note pads and special devices out to record the type of damage done in the area. Homeland security officials say for many homes the real damage is on the way.
Dale Powell said, "Where we are right now used to be these peoples front yard, but of course it's filled with water and as the water levels continue to fall, these peoples home might fall into the water."
So how can FEMA help? Officials say they'll submit all of their notes to the governor, then he'll send the information to the president in what's called a presidential declaration. If the president says the area is natural disaster FEMA can cut checks to people who qualify.
Charles Powell is a spokesman for FEMA and he said, "If any of these homes do slide off into the river and are completely destroyed once a declaration has been declared inspectors would come in and say this house is completely destroyed, this person is eligible for the maximum assistance."
And for the homes that don't fall in, those folks could also get federal dollars.
Charles Powell said, "In this situation here in this neighborhood there road is flooded, they had to evacuate, they can't live there they are getting expenses to house themselves for this period of time, if there is a declaration, FEMA will help them with those expenses."
But, that's only if and when the governor and the president approve.
Dale Powell said, "So we asking FEMA's help for these people, help, they're desperate for help."
