Louisiana’s congressional delegation is seeking additional federal support following a January winter storm that brought ice, extreme cold, and widespread utility outages to the northern part of the state.
In a Jan. 10 letter to President Donald Trump, members of the delegation requested an expedited major disaster declaration to provide longer-term assistance to nine parishes: Bienville, DeSoto, East Carroll, Franklin, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, and West Carroll.
The delegation said it supports Gov. Jeff Landry’s request for more assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), citing more than $11.39 million in storm-related costs incurred by the state.
Earlier this month, FEMA awarded Louisiana $3.75 million to help recoup costs associated with storm planning and short-term recovery efforts. Tennessee and Mississippi also received funding tied to the same weather system.
The Jan. 10 letter asks for federal assistance to cover debris removal, infrastructure restoration, and hazard mitigation efforts. Lawmakers also requested that FEMA cover the full cost of disaster response activities for 30 days.
In addition, the delegation urged the White House to approve funding for individual assistance, stating that preliminary damage assessments indicate the affected parishes could qualify.
According to the lawmakers, the storm caused power outages affecting more than 175,000 residential customers. Hospitals and nursing homes relied on generators, while schools and businesses were closed.
Interstate 20 and other highways were shut down for several days due to hazardous conditions. Damage to water systems left 32,487 customers without water and placed up to 187,359 residents under boil-water advisories.
According to the Black Chronicle, the letter also notes that the U.S. Small Business Administration has recognized the storm’s economic impact and is offering Economic Injury Disaster Loans in 19 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes.
The correspondence was signed by Sens. Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy, House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and Reps. Troy Carter, Julia Letlow, Clay Higgins, and Cleo Fields.
For business owners in sectors such as hospitality, retail, and travel-related services, including those operating campgrounds, RV parks, and glamping properties, the situation underscores the operational and financial risks associated with extreme winter weather events in regions not traditionally associated with prolonged cold.
Extended utility outages, water system failures, and highway closures can disrupt reservations, supply chains, and staffing.
The request for expanded federal support highlights the role of disaster declarations in unlocking public assistance, individual aid, and mitigation funding that may help stabilize local economies and restore critical infrastructure on which tourism-dependent businesses rely.