August 13 2025
Louisiana

A Roof Rebuilt, A Life Restored

Nearly 20 years after Hurricane Katrina battered her home, New Orleans, Louisiana, retiree Gail Micken is finally able to rest assured under a roof built to withstand the next storm. Thanks to a $15,000 Disaster Rebuilding Assistance (DRA) grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas, Ms. Micken’s home is now fortified against future storms, bringing peace of mind to the retiree living on a fixed income.

“After Katrina and all the smaller storms since, my roof just kept getting worse, and it’s a big house, so I had to fix it in pieces,” Ms. Micken said. “With prices going up and insurance getting harder to afford, this grant was a blessing. It gave me the help I needed to make my home safe again.”

Administered through FHLB Dallas member institutions, like Gulf Coast Bank & Trust in this case, DRA provides grants for the repair, rehabilitation and reconstruction of owner-occupied housing affected by disaster events in federally declared disaster areas within FHLB Dallas’s five-state District of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas.

“We’re proud to play a role in helping lifelong New Orleans residents like Ms. Micken repair their homes after a natural disaster,” said Brittainy Fields, CRA officer at Gulf Coast Bank & Trust. “Through these grants, we’re not only preserving housing but also strengthening safety and storm preparedness for the future.”

Ms. Micken’s new roof meets FORTIFIED standards by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), designed to withstand hurricanes, high winds, hail and severe thunderstorms.

“A FORTIFIED roof is a proactive investment in the quality and longevity of our housing stock,” said Greg Hettrick, senior vice president and Director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. “By helping homeowners improve and maintain their properties, we’re supporting community stability and giving residents the security and comfort they deserve.”

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