Harahan and Evangeline Parish Receive Funding for Planning Grants
Release Date: June 20, 2007
Release Number: 1603-649
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NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently approved funding to update existing hazard mitigation plans for the city of Harahan and Evangeline Parish.
The grant money comes from FEMA’s Expanded Mitigation Strategies Planning Grant Pilot. The program allows jurisdictions with FEMA-approved local hazard mitigation plans in place by Oct. 29, 2006, to apply for up to $150,000 to update their local mitigation plans. These updates will reduce the potential loss of life and property in future disasters. After submitting proposed updates, the city of Harahan and Evangeline Parish qualified for grants worth $112,500 each.
The city of Harahan has earmarked funding to amend its current plan and scope out several hazard mitigation projects. The plan will incorporate hazard and damage data updates, including the Advisory Base Flood Elevation levels, in its new hazard mitigation plan.
“The city of Harahan appreciates the opportunity to participate in FEMA’s Expanded Mitigation Strategies Planning Grant Pilot,” said Harahan Mayor Paul D. Johnston. “Municipalities, as small as the city of Harahan, often do not have funding to develop their own mitigation plans. This FEMA grant program affords us an opportunity to scope several hazard mitigation projects that will benefit the citizens of Harahan.”
To update its plan, Evangeline Parish will assess a number of mitigation projects. This scoping process will enable the parish to identify any new hazards and consider projects related to hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The updates will include properties in areas with flooding problems, including all repetitive loss areas in the parish, as well as critical facilities in need of strengthening.
“We are extremely grateful to FEMA for this grant. It will give us the tools to approach problem areas systematically and logically,” said Evangeline Parish President William Guidry.
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program 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.
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, 20-Jun-2007 10:20:46