NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- A Federal Emergency Management Agency official says Hurricane Gustav evacuees whose homes remain uninhabitable can have their hotel costs paid by FEMA.

Deputy Assistant Administrator David Garratt said Thursday night that the aid won't be available for short-term evacuees who fled the storm, spent a few nights in a hotel, then returned home.

Rather FEMA's program pays for "extended stays" in hotels for people who can't return to their homes because of power outages, damage or for other reasons related to the storm.

Officials clarified the agency's policies after criticism from some evacuees who said they would have preferred to stay in hotels paid for by FEMA rather than in public shelters.

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