Our Lady Of The Sea Hospital Receives FEMA Funds 

Release Date: August 10, 2007
Release Number: 1603-681

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NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently obligated funding to install wind resistant shutters and/or impact resistant windows at Our Lady of the Sea General Hospital.

The 84,000-square-foot, 35-bed health care facility serves South Lafourche and the lower Jefferson Parish area community of Grand Isle. The hospital provides vital medical services to surrounding communities in this somewhat isolated coastal area and serves as a safe refuge for the parish's emergency staff during tropical storms. Installation of approved hurricane shutters and screens will prevent wind-born debris from breaking glass and damaging interior components of the building and its contents.

"Completion of these mitigation measures will significantly improve the likelihood of the hospital surviving a major hurricane and remaining open to deal with emergency situations, house emergency personnel and respond to the needs of the community and emergency responders," said Jim Stark, FEMA's director of the Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office.

FEMA obligated $70,434 to Our Lady of the Sea for the wind retrofit to the hospital. Funding from FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) provides alternatives to reduce or eliminate long-term risks for properties affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

When projects are obligated by FEMA through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, the funds are transferred to a Smartlink account. This allows the grantee, the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, to draw down the funds as quickly as possible. The state may require additional information from the subgrantee before disbursing the funds.

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: Friday, 10-Aug-2007 09:23:38