WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and the entire Louisiana congressional delegation requested disaster recovery assistance following the Bourbon Street terrorist attack in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. The two letters request approval from President Biden of Governor Jeff Landry’s emergency disaster declaration for the State of Louisiana. They also request a Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Declaration for Orleans Parish. This will make essential assistance available in the form of SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans to small businesses affected by the attack.
“The French Quarter has long been a cornerstone of cultural identity and economic activity for New Orleans, dating back three centuries. Today, the neighborhood attracts millions of visitors annually and supports countless small businesses and their employees,” wrote the delegation. “This violent attack not only caused physical devastation, including the deaths of at least fifteen individuals and dozens of additional injuries, but also disrupted commerce, tourism, and the livelihoods of residents.”
Background
This terrorist attack caused significant harm to visitors and residents, disrupted essential services, and overwhelmed local and state resources. The attack occurred while the city was hosting and preparing for several large-scale events, including the Sugar Bowl and related events during the week of New Year’s Day, as well as Super Bowl LIX and the annual Carnival season in the coming weeks. These events attract tourists from around the nation and the world. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has designated Super Bowl LIX as a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1, a significant event that requires extensive federal interagency support and state and local resources.
Currently, the attack has resulted in the deaths of at least 14 individuals, numerous additional injuries, and substantial damage to public and private property. Key infrastructure, including major transportation routes and emergency services in the downtown area of New Orleans, have been severely impacted.
The State of Louisiana and its partners have fully responded to this crisis. As local and federal law enforcement work to find additional details on the attack, including tracking additional potential Improvised Explosive Devices and potentially other security threats, additional immediate federal support is critical to protect lives, restore essential services, and mitigate the potential for further harm.
Click here to read the letter to President Biden.
Click here to read the letter to the SBA.
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