NEW ORLEANS — Four Regional Economic Development organizations in the hurricane-impacted areas of Louisiana have joined together to support efforts for a unified disaster aid appropriation for the state’s recovery. The four groups urge the U.S. Congress to join with the Louisiana Congressional Delegation to secure funding so the area can rebuild. In two years, Louisiana’s citizens and businesses located along the Gulf of Mexico have been devastated by Hurricanes Laura (Category 4), Delta (Category 2), Zeta (Category 3), and Ida (Category 4).
The multi-billion dollar financial impact of these disasters include
- housing shortages,
- damaged public and private infrastructure,
- port, airport and transportation disruptions to commerce,
- business stoppage/bankruptcy,
- impacts to national fuel refining and distribution capacity,
- and other negative impacts associated with historic weather-related destruction.
“From battering our infrastructure to flooding our homes and businesses, Hurricane Ida’s impacts are varied and far-reaching across the greater New Orleans region,” said GNO Inc. President/CEO Michael Hecht. “Residents from the River Region to the Northshore to the Central Business District and surrounding parishes have seen their lives and livelihoods uprooted. We look forward to working with our congressional delegation to secure federal support to not just rebuild, but to return stronger and more resilient than ever.”
