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Louisiana Floods in 2005 (aerial view)
This summer offered many unexpected surprises to the United States residents. One of them was the Louisiana floods, which hit the state in August. Now that the danger is out, people have to deal with the damages. Thousands of homes were destroyed, and now people have to start anew. What have officials to say about this?
The Federal authorities have already allotted a sum of money for this pressing issue. However, Louisiana’s governor, John Bel Edwards, has recently requested additional money, which adds to the initial amount. The request was expressed on September 9, and now Louisiana expects $2bn from Washington. The governor declared to the members of the subcommittee the following:
“Simply put, we cannot recover without it.”
Most of the Louisiana budget went on shelters, food supplies and medication for children and elderly people who were affected by the damp. The costs of cleaning the streets and carrying away the waste material were also high.
Moreover, it is estimated that eighty percent of the houses and cars that were destroyed by the Louisiana floods didn’t have insurance. More than one hundred thousand families face this situation. Residents complain about regulations making it difficult for them to receive federal aid.
The Louisiana floods were caused by heavy rains, which started on August 12. They lasted for two days, and people and authorities alike were taken by surprise. Thirteen people died because of the unexpected meteorologic phenomena. Firefighters helped people get out of their flooded homes. Volunteers also helped them. Pets were also rescued during the missions.
The aggressive Louisiana floods also left the state with damages worth more than $8.7 billion.
Authorities are aware of the desperate situation of many Louisiana residents. They intend to come up with a well-organized plan which will help the population with their problems, including house building and infrastructure. Hospitals also need repairing.
There may be a significant delay by the time the funding from authorities can actually help the people. However, until that time comes, the community can count on the help of volunteers. The desperate situation they are in can also lead people to make a definitive decision, like leaving their damaged homes behind and look for a new place to live.
The Louisiana authorities’ conclusion is that the sooner they receive the money, the better. They depend on the federal funding in order to recover after the severe floods, as the local budget in not sufficient.
Image courtesy of: Wikipedia
