FEMA Provides $18.6 Million to Washington Parish 

Part of $2.38 Billion Provided in Public Assistance Grants Awarded Statewide

Release Date: June 13, 2006
Release Number: 1603-493

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NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has made available more than $18.6 million in Public Assistance (PA) funds to reimburse Washington Parish for debris clean-up expenses and overtime pay for firefighters, police and other critical workers in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The funding, in six grants made during the past three months, is part of $2.38 billion in federal PA disaster aid provided to state and local governments and private non-profit organizations throughout Louisiana. Under the program, FEMA gives the money to the state, which then disburses the funds.

Five grants totaling nearly $17.5 million were awarded for debris cleanup. Hurricane Katrina brought heavy rainfall and high winds, breaking tree limbs and uprooting and toppling trees throughout the parish. The funding will go toward cleaning up vegetative debris from private and public property.

After the storm, police, firefighters and public works personnel from the City of Bogalusa secured public buildings, established shelters, gathered equipment and personnel to receive evacuees and conducted search and rescue operations. More than $1 million in PA funds were awarded for overtime pay and costs for materials and contracted equipment.

FEMA's PA grant program funds thousands of projects throughout the state, including emergency services, debris cleanup, replacement of government buildings, vehicles and equipment, and repair or rebuilding of schools, libraries, courthouses, roads and bridges and other parts of Louisiana's infrastructure.

The PA grant program is one way federal assistance flows to state and local governments, and to certain private non-profit organizations. The final goal is to help communities and their residents recover from devastating natural disasters.

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 13-Jun-2006 08:26:39