|
View Text Only
| Privacy
Policy
|
Contact My Office |
Acadiana
800 Lafayette St.,
Suite 1200
Lafayette, LA 70501
Phone: (337) 262-6898
Fax: (337) 262-6373
Baton Rouge/River Parishes
858 Convention St.
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Phone: (225) 383-0331
Fax: (225) 383-0952
Central Louisiana
2230 S. MacArthur Dr., Suite 4
Alexandria, LA 71301
Phone: (318) 448-0169
Fax: (318) 448-0189
Northeast Louisiana
1217 N. 19th St.
Monroe, LA 71201
Phone: (318) 325-8120
Fax: (318) 325-9165
Northwest Louisiana
920 Pierremont Road, Suite 113
Shreveport, LA 71106
Phone: (318) 861-0437
Fax: (318) 861-4865
Southeast Louisiana
2800 Veterans Blvd.,
Suite 201
Metairie, LA 70002
Phone: (504) 589-2753
Fax: (504) 589-2607
Southwest Louisiana
3221 Ryan St., Suite E
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Phone: (337) 436-0453
Fax: (337) 436-3163
Washington, D.C.
516 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4623
Fax: (202) 228-5061
|
|
Announces Progress on Cameron Parish Temporary Housing Situation |
|
|
|
November 20, 2008 - Untitled Document
(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Sen. David Vitter today announced a decision by FEMA officials regarding the placement of temporary housing units in hurricane-damaged Cameron Parish, but cautioned that there was still progress to be made to ensure that the needs of local residents are met. FEMA had previously denied requests to provide mobile homes or park model trailers to local residents who sustained damage to their homes because agency flood zone maps put 80 percent of the parish in a high risk “V Zone.” A significant portion of Cameron Parish residents make their living as fishermen and they say the FEMA housing units are too far from the coast. “During our initial conversation on November 7, I expressed to FEMA Administrator Paulison my concerns with this current policy,” Vitter said. “These sorts of bureaucratic roadblocks are counterproductive and I believe that a six-month waiver of this federal rule is appropriate. These residents need to be near the coast, where they conduct their business. In a discussion today with Paulison, Vitter asked that this policy be revisited and FEMA agreed to conduct a survey of the parish to identify potential sites within the V Zone for the placement of trailers. “I am pleased that he has agreed to give this situation the attention it deserves and a FEMA team will survey the parish to identify potential trailer sites that would allow local fishermen to remain near the coast,” added Vitter. Vitter also announced that he has authored an amendment that would provide a more concrete solution to this situation and allow FEMA to place temporary housing units in lower Cameron Parish. Vitter plans to introduce the language as an amendment to the stimulus bill that Congress will consider in the coming days. “The residents of Cameron Parish have been through some tough times over the past few years. Fishing communities make up a large part of the parish and it is simply unacceptable to have these fishermen relocate to inland locations,” said Vitter. “As these residents move forward with the recovery process, the last thing they need is this sort of pushback from a federal agency. We should be helping them put their lives back together, not hindering the recovery process and endangering their livelihoods.” Federal regulations prohibit FEMA from placing temporary housing units in areas likely to be damaged by hurricanes and FEMA’s designation of parts of Cameron Parish as a Velocity Zone, or “V Zone”, means that the risk of damage is too great for temporary housing units. Vitter and officials from Cameron Parish contend that FEMA is using preliminary flood maps that have not been formally approved and are facing an appeal. Today’s decision means that FEMA may allow for the placement of temporary housing units on sites within the V Zone. |
|
Untitled Document
When Congress passed an unprecedented $700 billion bailout of the financial sector, I warned that it would pave the way for future bailouts, and sadly, that prediction has proven true as the Big Three American car manufacturers are asking for a $25 billion bailout. No one wants these companies to fail, but it would be a grave mistake for the federal government to bailout these companies without fundamentally reforming their business models. Mobile Office Schedule
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sen. Vitter Calls to Close MRGO.
Sen. Vitter outlines a plan to close the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|