State Superintendent Linda McCulloch today announced any new students enrolling in Montana public schools as a result of Hurricane Katrina are welcome and eligible for federal program benefits.

“In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Montana schools may experience the arrival of students leaving the aftermath of destruction. I know Montana schools will open their doors to welcome and help out these students,” said Superintendent McCulloch. “Schools should treat such students as ‘homeless students’ to qualify for federal assistance programs. It is likely that these students will lack school and immunization records. Some will arrive without parents and be living with relatives or friends. The lack of records should not hinder any such student from enrolling immediately. OPI is working with other state education agencies in the Hurricane area to obtain this information.”

The federal McKinney-Vento Act defines “homeless children and youth” as “Children and youth who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youth who are: sharing the housing of other persons due to the loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.” In compliance with this Act, children rendered homeless by the hurricane must be enrolled immediately and placed as appropriately as possible with verbal information from the parent and/or student.

“As a homeless child or youth they automatically qualify for and are entitled to all of the federally funded programs offered in a school or district. This includes all of the TITLE Programs as well as IDEA and school lunch programs, “noted McCulloch.
“Families hosting ‘Katrina refugees” may also qualify for free or reduced cost meal programs through the federal Food and Nutrition Service,” explained Superintendent McCulloch.

In cases where a household from a designated disaster area moves in with another household, the displaced individuals may be considered homeless and consequently automatically eligible for free meals. The host family will have to apply to be eligible for free or reduced price meal benefits

If there are questions regarding an issue with a child or youth enrolling in and attending class in a district please contact your District Homeless Liaison or contact Terry Teichrow, State Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth at 406-444-2036 or tteichrow@mt.gov.

“The U.S. Department of Education is asking the Office of Public Instruction to keep track of the numbers of those children and youth who come into Montana. Please keep us informed, by e-mail, of the numbers and status of any students enrolling because of Hurricane Katrina,” concluded Superintendent McCulloch. “I would like to thank all students and schools who are participating in hundreds of local relief activities to aid the victims of this national disaster.”

The following information was developed for FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) which aims to assist citizens with mitigating their structures damaged as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. While this information is geared toward those receiving HMGP grant funding, this guidance can also be useful for all property owners who are faced with rebuilding or restoring a structure that has historical value.

Generally a structure or site gains the potential to become a historic/archaeological resource upon its fiftieth birthday; however, this is only the initial requirement. Other questions must be taken into consideration-is my property associated with historic events or persons (national or local); does my property have distinctive design or physical characteristics; could my property potentially provide important information about prehistory or history? If the answer to these questions is yes (or even maybe) you might want to consider taking measures to preserve your structure.

FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is committed to preserving and enhancing Louisiana’s rich cultural resources and, in turn, the quality of life for citizens. While rebuilding safer and stronger is an important process for preventing future damages from natural disasters, cultural and historic resources aren’t always safeguarded or preserved in the process. However, it is possible to have a mitigation plan that still maintains the historic integrity of your property. The information in the following documents provide historic property owners with the appropriate resources needed to preserve, renovate, restore, and rebuild without losing integral and significant characteristics that make these properties valuable resources.

How long is the extension?
FEMA’s temporary housing program for eligible Katrina/Rita individuals and families is being extended an additional 60 days until May 1, 2009, at the request of a state.

Why is DHS extending FEMA’s direct housing assistance?
While the majority of Katrina and Rita individuals and families have successfully transitioned to permanent housing, there are still some who continue to need assistance. These participants are receiving an additional two months to complete the successful transition to long-term housing.

Who is eligible for the extension?
If the state has made the request, FEMA will grant the extension for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita eligible individuals and families still living in FEMA-provided housing.

Which states have requested an extension?
Alabama and Louisiana have requested an extension, and Mississippi accepted the offer to extend for the 60-day period.

What is FEMA doing to keep eligible participants on the path to self-sufficiency?
FEMA will continue to work with eligible participants to identify long-term housing solutions to assist residents with the transition into more suitable, long-term housing.

FEMA has contacted every applicant currently residing in a temporary housing unit and hotel/motel in the Gulf Coast to make them aware of available housing resources and will continue to visit and work with each household residing in a hotel/motel or temporary housing unit to transition them into more suitable, long-term housing options.

How will individuals and families be notified about the extension?
FEMA will provide notices to households located in a hotel/motel or temporary housing unit of the extension of assistance to May 1, 2009. All extension notices will be mailed to applicants living in temporary housing units and hotels/motels. FEMA will then hand deliver termination notices to all households still residing in temporary housing units or hotels/motels by March 31, 2009.

Will participants have the opportunity to purchase their temporary housing units?
FEMA is currently giving residents in mobile homes and park models the opportunity to purchase the unit in which they currently are living under the Temporary Housing Units Sales-to-Occupants program.

The sales program is open only to applicants currently residing in a mobile home or park model provided by FEMA. Conditions of the sale include:

• All units are sold “as is” with no implied warranties of any kind.
• Applicants must purchase the unit in which they currently live. No substitutions or exchanges of units are permitted.
• By purchasing the unit, the applicant accepts all responsibility and liability for the unit.
• The purchasing applicant is solely responsible for any applicable sales taxes, permits, or inspection costs associated with the sale.
• The applicant must provide proof of hazard insurance for the unit.
• The purchasing applicant must agree to comply with the local floodplain management codes, including purchasing flood insurance if the unit is or will be located in a designated Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).
• The unit must test within the state-set formaldehyde threshold.