Additional FEMA Funding Available For Justice Facilities
Police, fire and criminal justice facilities to benefit from new legislation affecting Public Assistance
Release Date: November 7, 2008
Release Number: 1603-813
» More Information on Louisiana Hurricane Katrina
» More Information on Louisiana Hurricane Rita
NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Police stations, fire stations and criminal justice facilities will benefit from recently passed legislation that allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Public Assistance program to provide additional funding for these types of facilities damaged during hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Section 546 of the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act 2009 provides these facilities, which are critical to ensuring public safety, with benefits intended to maximize eligible FEMA funding and help speed-up the rebuilding process. FEMA estimates that in National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) refunds alone, the Act will make more than $22 million in additional federal funds available throughout Louisiana.
The $22 million is attributable to FEMA taking only one NFIP deduction for contents and one for buildings for each type of facility owned by an applicant that was not covered by flood insurance at the time of the hurricanes. FEMA will apply the lowest deduction ensuring maximum eligible funding for these facilities.
"Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused considerable damage to facilities responsible for ensuring public safety. FEMA hopes that this legislation will help assist applicants in speeding up the repair and rebuild of police stations, fire stations and criminal justice facilities," said Jim Stark, assistant administrator for FEMA's Gulf Coast Recovery Office.
Some applicants benefiting from the NFIP refund include the following: Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff ($8.7 million), city of New Orleans ($8.2 million), Plaquemines Parish ($2.3 million), St. Bernard Parish ($985,900) and Jefferson Parish ($54,700). No action is required by applicants to receive these funds. FEMA is able to calculate and process the payments based on information previously submitted.
Another benefit is that Alternate Projects will be funded at 100 percent of eligible funding for police stations, fire stations and criminal justice facilities. Normally, Alternate Projects are reduced to 75 percent of eligible funding. This allows applicants the flexibility to apply these funds to another project they feel would best serve the public, rather than repairing the original facility. For example, the applicant could choose to repair or expand another public facility, build a new facility and/or purchase capital equipment.
As of Oct. 30, 2008, FEMA had already provided more than $740.7 million in Public Assistance funds for police, fire and criminal justice facilities damaged by hurricanes Katrina or Rita. 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 the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (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: Friday, 07-Nov-2008 12:54:25