It's been nearly seven years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast. Recovery has been slow, but Orleans Parish has just hit a major turning point. On Sunday, February 12, 2012 the residents of Orleans Parish saw the last Federal Emergency Management Agency Temporary Housing Unit removed. 

 

"For more than six years, temporary housing units were located on private properties, group and industrial sites, and in commercial mobile home/RV parks across New Orleans while her residents recovered from the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina," said FEMA's Louisiana Recovery Office Deputy Director of Programs Andre Cadogan. "The transition of this final household is a huge success for our agency, the state, the city, local nonprofits, and all others who contributed to helping return normalcy to New Orleans and those who live here."

At the peak of post Katrina recovery more than 23,000 households were living in FEMA temporary housing in Orleans Parish alone.

City of New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said, "At the end of the day, FEMA trailers were never meant to be permanent housing units, so I'm glad that our code enforcement efforts coupled with FEMA case work has helped individuals transition to permanent housing. Working together, we've gone from 230 trailers in December 2010 to zero today. Another page has turned in New Orleans' post-Katrina history."

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