FEMA authorizes Rita survivors’ aid

Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005 | 10:13 a.m.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency authorized Nevada and Clark County officials on Wednesday to provide assistance to Hurricane Rita survivors, the second wave of evacuees in a month, at the recovery center on Highland Drive.

With FEMA's declaration, the county, state and local government service agencies working at the center will receive full reimbursement from the federal government for any social services or other forms of assistance provided, he said Darryl Martin, assistance county manager.

Hurricane survivors can find sources for food, shelter, clothing and jobs at the center.

The aid is in addition to providing one-stop services to more than 3,100 people who arrived in Las Vegas since Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29.

The assistance provided to hurricane survivors also includes people who have registered at the center since Monday after Hurricane Rita. A total of 17 households representing about 43 people have come to the center after Rita swamped Texas and Louisiana.

"We've been assisting hurricane Rita evacuees at the center on a limited basis since Monday," Martin said.

Those who left Texas and Louisiana in Rita's wake received limited assistance from nonprofit groups such as the Red Cross or Catholic Charities, Martin said, typically bare-bones necessities such as food and shelter.

To date, Clark County has spent about $280,000 on relief efforts, including $79,800 for a three-month lease at the Highland Drive office building as well as purchase orders for equipment, supplies and contracted services.

With FEMA's declaration, the county is eligible for 100 percent reimbursement from the federal government for costs associated with disaster relief efforts.

The Highland Drive site serves as a disaster recovery center, jointly operated by Clark County and the Nevada Division of Emergency Management at the request of FEMA.

The center is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The new help center is located about two blocks south of Sahara Avenue on Highland Drive near Presidio Avenue. It was a former office building for the Energy Department. A map is posted on www.accessclarkcounty.com.

The new site replaced Catholic Charities' Fertitta Community Assistance Center as the location where hurricane evacuees can receive local, state, federal and non-profit services and assistance.