Staying Informed – Remember, you can keep updated on response efforts through ready.nola.gov or receive updates directly to your mobile phone by texting “NOLAREADY” to 77295.

Getting FEMA Individual Assistance – If you haven’t already, go online and register with the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) for the Individual Assistance Program at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362.

Employee Assistance Program – UHC Members have 24/7 access to help with navigating mental health, financial or legal concerns. They simply call the number on the back of their member id card for assistance. In addition to calling and speaking with a representative, the member has up to three face to face meetings with an EAP network provider.  Call the number on the back of your medical card and as to speak with an EAP provider or call 1-888-887-4114.

Offering Support – Anyone interested in supporting Hurricane Ida response efforts can do so by donating to the following groups:

    •    Second Harvest Food Bank

    •    World Central Kitchen

    •    United Way of Southeast LA

    •    Greater New Orleans Foundation

Power Update

  • Percent of Customers with Power Restored:
    • Jefferson (East Bank & West Bank) – 100%
    • Lower Jefferson – 90%
    • Orleans – 100%
    • Plaquemines (Belle Chasse) – 100%
    • Plaquemines (Outside of Belle Chasse) – 60%
    • St. Bernard – 100%
    • St. Charles – 5%
    • St. James – 58%
    • St. John the Baptist – 29%
    • St. Tammany (Entergy) – 100%
    • St. Tammany/Washington (Cleco) – 90%
    • Tangipahoa/St. Helena – 61%
    • Washington (Entergy) -100%

As of 9/12/21, 8:00 a.m.

Estimated times of restoration by neighborhood for Entergy can be found here.  

Estimated times of restoration for Cleco by neighborhood can be found here.

Internet Update

  • Cox – Cox has restored service to 80% of customers in Greater New Orleans.  Repairs are estimated to be completed by Tuesday for areas with more extensive damage, including western Metairie, Kenner, and lower Jefferson.  Cox is providing customer services including:  free service transfers; reversal of late fees; service-pauses; and, credits to those who are impacted.  You can read more here.
  • AT&T – Of the wireline customers where service was impacted, over 90% have had their service restored as of 9/10.  You can read more here.

Other Information

  • St. James Parish Boil Water Advisory – The boil water advisory for the West Bank of the parish and the Town of Gramercy has been lifted.  The remainder of the East Bank remains under a boil water advisory.

Disaster Assistance

  • FEMA Assistance – FEMA has opened a 24-hour helpline to help Hurricane Ida survivors.  The number is 1-800-621-3362 and is open 7 days a week.  The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is October 28.  FEMA is providing grant money for damage and serious needs not covered by insurance, including:
  • Basic home repairs to a primary residence to help restore habitability (for homeowners)
  • Temporary rental assistance for people who need to relocate because a home is uninhabitable (for homeowners and renters)
  • Other needs, such as replacing essential personal property and other disaster expenses (homeowners and renters)

To apply, visit DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362.  Applicants can also visit FEMA in person at more than 20 locations in Louisiana; check with local officials for locations and hours. By law, FEMA cannot duplicate payments for assistance provided by insurance or any other source. As of September 10, FEMA has administered $271 million in Hurricane-Ida related grants to homeowners and renters in Louisiana.

  • Loss of Use Insurance Claims – Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is directing insurance companies to pay Loss of Useclaims filed by Ida evacuees.  The commissioner issued a directive to insurance companies requiring them to pay for loss of use, after a major company said it would not pay claims where no official evacuation order was issued.  If you are a policyholder who is filing such a claim, whether you have to pay a deductible will depend on the language in your policy.  Evacuees are encouraged to keep all receipts for their expenses to support their claims.  You can read more here.

Insurance policies may include Additional Living Expenses (ALE) or Loss of Use (LOU) coverage, which is a benefit that provides supplemental money to cover increased costs, including temporary housing, when you are unable to live in your home due to a loss covered by insurance.  FEMA may be able to assist with your disaster-related temporary housing, such as rental assistance and lodging expense reimbursement, if you have exhausted ALE or LOU funds from your insurance settlement.

You may be able to receive Rental Assistance from FEMA without sending insurance documents if you only have flood-caused damage because flood insurance does not provide ALE or LOU funds.

FEMA may provide some Rental Assistance to help meet your immediate needs if your insurance benefits are delayed. However, two important conditions for receiving this form of assistance are:

  • Your insurance settlement must be delayed 30 days or more form the date a claim was filed through no fault of your own.
  • You must agree to repay the Rental Assistance provided by FEMA after receiving your insurance settlement.
  • SBA Disaster Assistance – Federal low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to businesses, homeowners and renters.  You may call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, email [email protected] or visit http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance for more information on SBA disaster assistance. 

GNO, Inc. has compiled a list of FAQs related to SBA Disaster Assistance.  You can view them here.

  • Additional Disaster Assistance Webinars – GNO, Inc. has posted a list of upcoming webinars on Ida-related aid.  You can also view previously recorded webinars on our Disaster Assistance Webinars webpage

Useful Resources

  • Generators:  GNO PowerMatch – GNO, Inc. has built a webpage to connect those with generators to companies and organizations in need.  Visit GNO PowerMatch if you need a generator.  If you have generators for sale, rental, loan, or donation, visit GNO PowerMatchand scroll to “Vendor Submission.”
  • Volunteer Opportunities – You can find opportunities to volunteer across our region on GNO, Inc.’s Storm Updates webpage.  Volunteers are needed for everything from food distribution to organizing donations and putting tarps on roofs.  You can view opportunities here. (scroll to bottom-half of page)
  • Temporary Workspace – The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) has compiled a list of temporary workspaces for those without access to their normal office or who lack electricity to work remotely.  You may access the full list of available spaces here.  Thank you to our friends in Baton Rouge!
  • RESTORE St. Tammany – The St. Tammany Corporation launched several business disaster responses initiatives for St. Tammany Parish businesses.  These programs include the Business Needs Assessment, Recovery Help Line, and Disaster Relief Website.  To learn more about RESTORE St. Tammany, visit www.RESTOREStTammany.com
  • Jefferson Parish Workspace – JEDCO is offering transitional office space for JP businesses in four-hour timeslots beginning September 8.  Offices include internet, phone service and air conditioning.  Interested businesses must contact JEDCO in advance to reserve space.  Contact Scott Rojas at [email protected]
  • Resource Map – The United Way of Southeast Louisiana has created a Hurricane Ida Resource Map that provides the location of available resources across the region.  To view the map, click here