In the wake of Hurricane Francine, President Joe Biden declared the weather event a major disaster, early Tuesday. 
The move means federal funding can now be channeled into assistance for individuals, organizations and local governments affected by the hurricane. 
That assistance, according to a statement from the White House, can take the form of grants for temporary housing and repairs, low-cost loans for uninsured property loss and much more. 
The disaster declaration will include Ascension, Assumption, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary and Terrebonne Parishes. More parishes may be added based on coming damage assessments, according a press release from the governor’s office. 
The logistics of how those funds will reach the parishes will be handled by FEMA’s federal coordinating officer, Sandy Slinger. 
Insured damages caused by Francine are estimated at $1.5 billion, according to a new study from weather, climate and catastrophe modeling firm Karen Clark and Company. That figure does not include damage to boats, offshore properties, National Flood Insurance Program losses or, naturally, all the damage wrought by Francine to uninsured property. 
A release from the governor’s office quoted Gov. Landry’s reaction to the disaster approval: “This federal assistance is vital to help Louisiana rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Francine. I appreciate the hard work our federal delegation, local officials, and our administration put in to get this over the finish line.”
Residents and business owners in the designated parishes can begin applying for funding through DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or through the FEMA app. 

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