FEMA Rebuilding Schools along Gulf Coast 

More Than $385 Million Already Funded to Rebuild Schools

Release Date: June 30, 2006
Release Number: 1603-504

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NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Among the most important challenges facing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita is the reconstruction of schools and other educational facilities.

Hundreds of thousands of students were displaced by the storms, and dozens of school buildings were damaged or destroyed. As part of its Public Assistance program, FEMA has been working closely with state and local education officials throughout the Gulf Coast region to rebuild schools.

Days after the storms made landfall, FEMA was on the ground examining damage and developing plans to meet the educational needs of affected communities. FEMA has built hundreds of temporary classroom facilities throughout the region, helping thousands of children continue their education with minimal disruption.

In Jackson County, Mississippi, Hurricane Katrina damaged nearly every school in the county. Damage to St. Martin Upper Elementary (SMUE) and St. Martin Middle School (SMMS) was particularly severe. To meet the needs of Jackson County, and to ensure the 1,200 students at both schools could continue learning with minimal disruption, FEMA, in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), constructed 84 temporary classrooms in portable units on the two campuses. FEMA also provided funding to replace furniture and educational materials lost in the storm.

"I can't say enough good things about the FEMA team," said Jackson County School District Assistant Superintendent Dr. Barry Amacker. "We were all surprised to realize that two complete schools could be set up within such a short period," he added. As the school year comes to a close in Jackson County, FEMA continues to work with school officials to restore schools to pre-Katrina condition.

Throughout Jackson County, classes are being held in 91 trailers set up by FEMA. "It was a remarkable feat in setting up these trailers," said Jackson County Schools Superintendent Rucks Robinson. "We've just had a great relationship with the people of FEMA."

Schools in Choctaw County, Ala. suffered roof damage resulting in water leaks and damage to the interior of the schools. Recognizing the need to act quickly to address the problem, FEMA staff worked closely with school officials on repairs. "FEMA was exceptionally quick to respond. The rapid response by FEMA allowed the schools to make the necessary repairs to the building and grounds to get the schools back up and running very quickly," said Douglas Marsh, an administrator for the Choctaw County Board of Education.

In Louisiana, students at Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO), a Historically Black College, were unsure whether they would be able to continue their education after Hurricane Katrina caused flooding throughout the campus. Responding to the need, FEMA staff collaborated with USACE and SUNO leadership to build a temporary campus on a nearby site. The new SUNO campus includes 30 classrooms, laboratory space, dining facilities and offices. Adjacent to the campus is a housing site, with travel trailers for approximately 400 hundred students and their families.

Fewer than six months after Katrina made landfall, SUNO welcomed students back to a campus constructed out of modular buildings, and on May 13, SUNO held commencement. "We're very appreciative of the effort of FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers. We wouldn't be here without it," said SUNO Chancellor Dr. Victor Ukpolo.

Southern Louisiana Parishes including Cameron, Vermilion, Plaquemines, Orleans and St. Bernard looked like war zones following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Schools in these parishes, like Arabi Elementary in St. Bernard Parish and Erath Middle-High School in Vermilion Parish, were completely destroyed by storm surge. Rebuilding these schools will take years, but to help students and their families return home, FEMA has provided more than 150 portable classrooms in the fall, and is currently working to install several hundred more in time for the 2006-2007 school year.

In addition to its efforts to build temporary educational facilities to meet immediate needs, FEMA is reimbursing states for the costs of repairing or replacing damaged school buildings. Building contents are also eligible for reimbursement. FEMA is also providing housing for teachers and administrators whose homes were destroyed by the storms in some areas where housing remains in short supply. To date, FEMA has obligated more than $385 million for temporary classrooms, to repair and rebuild damaged schools, and to replace textbooks, library books, desks and school supplies.

FEMA has also expanded its definition of public schools to include charter schools, demonstrating the agency's desire to integrate its approach to education with that of the Department of Education. This change means that charter schools will no longer need to request a loan from the Small Business Administration as a pre-requisite for being eligible for federal grants. Without this bureaucratic step, charter schools like public schools have fewer hurdles to reopening quickly.

The U.S. Department of Education also has several programs to minimize the impact of the hurricanes on students' learning. The Impact Aid program provides $645 million to help school districts nationwide who have welcomed displaced students into their communities. More than $350 million in Impact Aid has been distributed to the four gulf coast states to date. The Department of Education is also providing $750 million in Restart Aid to help reopen and restart damaged schools in the most affected states.

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: Friday, 30-Jun-2006 12:12:05