FEMA Hazard Mitigation Funds Approved for Terrebonne Parish to Acquire Properties 

Release Date: January 30, 2008
Release Number: 1603-763

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HOUMA, La. -- Today, $3 million in Hazard Mitigation Grant money was approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) and the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) to acquire 33 residential properties in Terrebonne Parish.

These structures are on the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) severe repetitive loss list of residential structures with excessive flood loss. Acquiring these severe repetitive loss properties removes them from the floodplain and eliminates future damages and health and safety risks for homeowners and potential rescuers.

As defined by the NFIP, severe repetitive loss homes have suffered damages of $5,000 or more on at least four occasions or suffered damages of more than 50 percent of their value on two or more occasions. About 1,700 homes, or about one-third of the severely and repetitively damaged homes in America, are in Louisiana. 

"Louisiana will use federal funds to purchase these properties, protecting homes from harm in the event of future disasters and allowing families to relocate to safer areas," said LRA Board Member Tim Coulon. "We have prioritized safety in our recovery and hazard mitigation projects such as this one help prevent future loss."

Louisiana's hazard mitigation program is supported by local, state, federal and citizen partnerships.  As with all acquisitions made through this program, these property owners have expressed an interest in selling their properties to the parish and have signed voluntary participation forms. The decision to buy damaged property is made by the local government and property owners, and these acquisitions are consistent with Louisiana's overall mitigation strategy.   

FEMA obligated nearly $3.1 million to buy these 33 properties. When projects are obligated by FEMA through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), the funds are transferred to a Smartlink account. This allows the grantee, GOHSEP, to draw down the funds as quickly as possible.

Once the acquisition project is approved by the state and FEMA, the community uses federal funds to purchase the homes. The land is then restricted to open space, recreation or wetlands in perpetuity. After the local governments become the new owners of these properties, they become responsible for all maintenance and upkeep. These properties will no longer be eligible for any future federal disaster assistance.

"Purchasing these residential properties is an effective way of moving people and property away from high-risk areas and reducing disaster losses," said FEMA Acting Associate Deputy Administrator for Gulf Coast Recovery Jim Stark. "Returning these properties to open space also effectively eliminates the need to provide emergency response services, subsidized flood insurance and federal disaster assistance to residents."

Hazard mitigation is one of the state's top priorities. In November 2005, the LRA authorized the release of $250 million to help parishes prevent damage from future disasters. In accordance with the State Hazard Mitigation Program, the LRA directed GOHSEP to distribute the first hazard mitigation funding available after hurricanes Katrina and Rita to parish governments.

HMGP provides grants to states and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration, to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated South Louisiana, claiming 1,464 lives, destroying more than 200,000 homes and 18,000 businesses. The LRA is the planning and coordinating body that was created in the aftermath of these storms by Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco to lead one of the most extensive rebuilding efforts in the world. The LRA is a 33-member body which is coordinating across jurisdictions, supporting community recovery and resurgence, ensuring integrity and effectiveness and planning for the recovery and rebuilding of Louisiana.

GOHSEP will ensure that the state is prepared to respond to, and recover from, all natural and man-made emergencies. This office will provide the leadership and support to reduce the loss of life and property through an all-hazards emergency management program of prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror. 

Last Modified: Wednesday, 30-Jan-2008 10:26:25