FEMA Provides Additional Funds For Repairs To Katrina-Damaged Roadways In Lakeview And 7th Ward Neighborhoods
Release Date: December 8, 2008
Release Number: 1603-819
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NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Residents of the Lakeview and 7th Ward neighborhoods will enjoy smoother rides to and from their homes, businesses and recreation spots with additional funding for roadway repair work from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
"The restoration of Katrina-damaged roadways in New Orleans is essential for this city's recovery," said Jim Stark, director of FEMA's Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office. "FEMA realizes it's not practical to rebuild New Orleans' houses, schools and hospitals without rebuilding the essential roadways that connect them to one another."
Hurricane Katrina's rain accumulation, in combination with debris blockage and insufficient drainage, saturated soils and caused flooding and standing water in most New Orleans' neighborhoods. In addition to destroying homes, roadways throughout these neighborhoods were also negatively impacted.
Damage assessments to the city's roadways were handled as a team approach with FEMA, the state and the city present. These "road" teams determined if damages to streets, sidewalks, curbs, gutters and driveway aprons were storm related or pre-existing. They assessed this by walking all of the nearly 13,000 blocks in the city of New Orleans. Only those damages determined to be storm related were eligible for FEMA funding.
After reviewing contracted costs for the repair work, FEMA provided an additional $2.7 million, bringing the total to $5.5 million, for roadways in the Lakeview and 7th Ward neighborhoods. This past June, after a public bid process, the city's Department of Public Works selected contractors to perform the actual repairs to the Katrina-damaged roadways in New Orleans. According to the city, all Katrina-related roadway repairs will be completed by June 2010.
The Lakeview neighborhood, which will receive over $2.6 million in FEMA-funds for roadway repairs, is bounded on the south side by I-610, on the east side by Orleans Avenue, on the north side by Robert E. Lee Boulevard and on the west side by Pontchartrain Boulevard.
The 7th Ward neighborhood, which will receive over $2.9 million in FEMA-funds for roadway repairs, is bounded on the south side by St. Claude Avenue, on the east side by Elysian Fields Avenue, on the north side by N. Broad Avenue and Florida Avenue and on the west side by Esplanade Avenue.
When project funds are obligated by FEMA through its supplemental Public Assistance grant, the funds are transferred to a federal Smartlink account. Once the funds have reached this account the applicant can request reimbursement from GOHSEP for eligible work completed. 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.
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: Monday, 08-Dec-2008 17:00:01