FEMA Approves More Than $1.3 Million To Protect The Levee Slope In Area Flooded By June Levee Break
Release Date: October 29, 2004
Release Number: R9-04-093
OAKLAND, CAalif. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today released $1,350,000 million to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) for eligible costs incurred in repairing and restoring the levee break that began June 3. The levee breach caused flooding of both the Upper and Lower Jones Tracts and threatened the drinking water supply for over 23 million Californians.
The funding will cover the cost of DWR’s contract to protect the levee’s slope on the inside of the Jones Tracts. This contract covered the cost of transporting rock to the site and distributing and placing it along approximately 14 miles of the levee’s inside slope.
“FEMA recognizes the threat the levee break posed to both the surrounding Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta and the welfare of millions of Californians,” said Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response. “We strongly support sharing in a state’s efforts to save lives and property.”
The project to strengthen the levee to prevent further damage is just one of more than 50 such projects being funded by FEMA through its Public Assistance Program. This funding is made available for reimbursement of eligible disaster-related costs to state and local governments and certain private non-profit agencies that provide essential services to the community.
FEMA normally provides 75 percent of eligible project costs with the remaining 25 percent coming from local resources.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA’s continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Friday, 29-Oct-2004 16:13:20