FEMA Funds Content Replacements For Northshore Technical College 

Release Date: January 11, 2008
Release Number: 1603-758

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LACOMBE, La. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently provided funds to replace the contents for a technical college in St. Tammany Parish.

Floodwaters of approximately seven feet produced by Hurricane Katrina destroyed all the contents at the campus of Slidell’s Louisiana Technical College (LTC). The contents to be replaced include those for the college’s horticulture, culinary, nursing, welding, automotive, drafting and computer technology programs.

The Slidell campus buildings also were destroyed. The school will relocate to a site north of Lacombe and remain in St. Tammany Parish. Construction is slated to last two to three years. School officials anticipate approximately 2,000 students to enroll in classes once the school re-opens.

“It will be of great benefit because we have to have the contents to serve the students,” LTC Senior Compliance Officer Steven Zeringue said. “The residents of St. Tammany Parish need all the equipment necessary to train for job opportunities. FEMA has been very cooperative. They’ve done a good job addressing our needs.”

FEMA has obligated $2.2 million toward the replacement of contents for the former LTC-Slidell campus.

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 LTC, to work with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness as quickly as possible to access the reimbursement monies. 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, 14-Jan-2008 13:05:37