Orleans Parish Schools Move Toward Recovery With FEMA's Assistance 

Release Date: August 22, 2007
Release Number: 1603-686

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NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Approximately 126 Orleans Parish public school campuses suffered damages from Hurricane Katrina. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is committed to assuring those schools' students have access to educational facilities.

Of the 126 damaged campuses, 61 campuses will be open and ready for students for the beginning of the 2007-08 school year. An additional 13 campuses are undergoing repairs and should be open by the time school starts.

Another 12 temporary facilities will open during the 2007-08 school year to provide additional classroom space for up to 7,200 students. The temporary schools should provide educational solutions to house the expected number of students while other schools are being replaced or repaired.

With schools ready to open for this school year, the Department of Education has started long-range master planning efforts for Orleans Parish. FEMA is supporting the plan to renovate or break ground on five new schools by the end of the year.

FEMA continues to work actively with RSD and OPSB to schedule repairs or replacements of damaged school buildings. This work also includes cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Education and the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. FEMA remains committed to providing all available and eligible resources to reconstruct a sound educational system in New Orleans.

"FEMA supports rapid, cost-effective solutions to provide student seats while repairs and rebuilding efforts continue," FEMA's Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office Director Jim Stark said. "We will continue to work closely with state officials to find solutions in locating classroom space."

To date, FEMA has obligated a total of $337 million toward recovery of schools in Orleans Parish.  When projects are obligated by FEMA through its supplemental Public Assistance grant, the funds are transferred to a Smartlink account. This allows the applicant, in this case RSD and the OPSB, to work with the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness as quickly as possible to access the funds obligated. The state may require additional documentation from the applicant before disbursing the funds. Obligated funds may change over time as the project worksheet is a living grant that is often adjusted as bids come in and scope of work is aligned.

Recently FEMA-funded RSD projects include the following:

The Public Assistance program works with state and local officials to fund recovery measures and the rebuilding of government and certain private nonprofit organizations' buildings, as well as roads, bridges and water and sewer plants. In order for the process to be successful, federal, state and local partners coordinate to draw up project plans, fund these projects and oversee their completion.

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, 22-Aug-2007 10:36:06