BATON ROUGE, La. — As Louisianans repair or rebuild their homes damaged by August floods, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and local hardware and home improvement stores have teamed up to provide free information, tips and literature on making homes stronger and safer.FEMA mitigation specialists will be on hand to provide information at area Lowe’s stores from Aug. 30 to Sept. 10. They will be available to answer questions and offer home improvement tips and proven methods to prevent and lessen damage from future disasters. Most of the information is aimed...

BATON ROUGE, La. – If you are cleaning out your home and removing flood-damaged materials, be aware of potentially hazardous wastes and dispose of them properly.Hazardous waste should always be separated from non-hazardous materials. Types of hazardous waste includes:Cleaning products such as bleach, ammonia, and polishesPesticides and repellantsAutomotive fluidsPaints, varnishes, and solventsBatteries, fluorescent lightbulbs, and items containing mercuryFire starters, accelerants, and other flammable itemsMaterials contaminated with flammable products should be separated from all other waste and stored in a well-ventilated area. If stored outdoors, flammable materials should be placed in a...

BATON ROUGE, La. – If you have property affected by the recent severe storms and flooding in Louisiana, you’re encouraged to get the necessary permits before starting new construction or repairs.“The first step for any property owners in Louisiana who have damage to their homes or businesses should be to check with your local building official,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar. “That official can work with you or your contractor to ensure any permits are properly filed and necessary inspections are carried out.”Permits may be required for repairs to...

BATON ROUGE, La. – A disaster recovery center is opening Sunday, August 28, in Lafayette Parish to assist Louisiana flood survivors. The center is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice.The disaster recovery center is operating at the following address and hours:Lafayette ParishLocation:  Lafayette Court (at University and Lee)                  301 West University Avenue                  Lafayette, LA 70506Hours:      8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Monday through Sunday)Survivors may locate other centers near them by visiting fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers, calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, or downloading the FEMA mobile app.To...

BATON ROUGE, La. – A disaster recovery center is opening Monday, August 29, in East Baton Rouge Parish to assist Louisiana flood survivors. The center is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice.The disaster recovery center is operating at the following address and hours:East Baton Rouge Parish Location:Baker Council on Aging3334 Jefferson StreetBaker, LA 70714Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Monday through Sunday)Survivors may locate other centers near them by visiting fema.gov/disaster-recovery- centers, calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, or downloading the FEMA mobile app.To...