State And Federal Assistance Approved For Hazard Mitigation Projects In Lafourche Parish 

Release Date: October 4, 2007
Release Number: 1603-728

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NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Today the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA), the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced approval of $397,023 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to acquire three severe repetitive loss properties located in Lafourche Parish.

“By acquiring these homes, the state’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is working to reduce damage from future storms,” said Louisiana Recovery Authority Board Member Tim Coulon. “Across the state money for mitigation projects is at work, and this is just another example of how Louisiana is using this disaster as an opportunity to rebuild safer, stronger and smarter.”

These structures are on the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) severe repetitive loss list of residential structures with excessive flood loss. Acquisition of these properties will prevent future flood damages.

As defined by the NFIP, severe repetitive loss homes have suffered damages of $1,000 or more on at least four occasions or suffered damages of more than 50 percent of their value on two or more occasions.  About 1,700 homes, or about one-third of the severely and repetitively damaged homes in America, are in Louisiana. 

One of the state’s top priorities is mitigation planning. Approved by GOHSEP and FEMA, hazard mitigation plans enable communities to take actions to reduce or eliminate long-term risks to people and property from natural hazards and their effects.

Louisiana’s hazard mitigation program is supported by local, state, federal and citizen partnerships. As with all acquisitions made through this program, these property owners have expressed an interest in selling their properties to the parish and have signed voluntary participation forms. The decision to buy damaged property is made by the local government and property owners, and these acquisitions are consistent with Louisiana’s overall mitigation strategy.

Once the acquisition project is approved by the state and FEMA, the community uses federal funds to purchase the homes. The land is then restricted to open space, recreation or wetlands in perpetuity. After the local governments become the new owners of these properties, they become responsible for all maintenance and upkeep. These properties will no longer be eligible for any future federal disaster assistance.

“By purchasing these residential properties, Lafourche Parish is utilizing an effective program designed to move people and property away from high-risk areas to reduce disaster losses,” said Jim Stark, FEMA’s director of the Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office.

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.

The LRA authorized the release of $250 million to help parishes prevent damage from future disasters in November 2005.  In accordance with the State Hazard Mitigation Program, LRA directed GOHSEP to distribute the first hazard mitigation funding available after hurricanes Katrina and Rita to parish governments. To access hazard mitigation funds through the state HMGP program, parishes submit proposals to GOHSEP. The funds, which are provided under the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, require a 25 percent match from parish governments or state agencies. 

Projects eligible for HMGP funds include structure elevation, wind retrofitting of facilities, property acquisition, planning, mitigated reconstruction and safe room installation. Projects must fit within the state’s and local governments’ overall mitigation strategy and comply with HMGP guidelines.

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 GOSHEP, to draw down the funds as quickly as possible. The state may require additional information from the subgrantee before disbursing the funds.

In addition to this HMGP program, more than $1 billion in hazard mitigation funds will also be made available through GOHSEP to homeowners who have applied to the Road Home program. The state is seeking approval of this elevation funding from FEMA. When the state’s application to distribute HMGP funds through the Road Home program is approved, homeowners will be contacted by The Road Home program with information regarding the next step.

A congressionally mandated study conducted for FEMA revealed that mitigation saves society an average of $4 for every dollar spent. Such defensive, preventative mitigation measures learned and implemented by Louisianians will contribute to a national floodplain management plan that saves taxpayers an estimated $1.1 billion per year by preventing flood damages.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated South Louisiana, claiming 1,464 lives, destroying more than 200,000 homes and 18,000 businesses. The LRA is the planning and coordinating body that was created in the aftermath of these storms by Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco to lead one of the most extensive rebuilding efforts in the world. The LRA is a 33-member body which is coordinating across jurisdictions, supporting community recovery and resurgence, ensuring integrity and effectiveness, and planning for the recovery and rebuilding of Louisiana.

GOHSEP will ensure that the state is prepared to respond to, and recover from, all natural and man-made emergencies. This office will provide the leadership and support to reduce the loss of life and property through an all-hazards emergency management program of prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

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: Thursday, 04-Oct-2007 10:50:37