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LAPLACE — Through January 3, FEMA has approved 558,252 applications from households in the 25 declared parishes, paying out grants totaling $1.079 billion.

In St. John Parish, more than $50 million has been approved for more than 14,000 households, including more than $16 million in repair assistance, more than $13 million in temporary rental assistance and more than $19 million for other needs.

As of January 3, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved 24,790 loans for more than $1.2 billion, with more than $1.1 billion for Louisiana homeowners and more than $89 million for Louisiana businesses.

As of December 28, 14,368 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Claims have been filed in Louisiana and NFIP has paid out more than $591 million.

As of January 3, about 3,700 Louisiana households are in hotel rooms paid for by FEMA, with more than 400 households being from St. John Parish.

As for FEMA’s Direct Housing program, as of January 3, steady progress continues with 420 households living in FEMA travel trailers or mobile homes, with 78 of those households from St. John Parish. Ten parishes are approved for the program. FEMA has determined that about 4,700 households are eligible for the program.

For people needing assistance with their applications, with appeals, with SBA loans, and with the state’s sheltering program, four Disaster Recovery Centers remain open between Lafourche, Terrebonne and St. Charles parishes. Applicants from any parish can visit any center.

The St. Charles Parish location is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 274 Judge Edward Dufresne Parkway in Luling.