FEMA Provides $368 Million for Public Works Projects in Louisiana 

Funds will help parishes, state agencies and institutions recover from hurricanes

Release Date: April 10, 2006
Release Number: 1603-432

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BATON ROUGE, La. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced 46 individual grants in excess of $1 million for federal disaster assistance totaling $368 million in public assistance funding approved during the first quarter of 2006. These grants reimburse the state of Louisiana for disaster relief following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

These grants have been approved for a variety of projects including debris removal and repairs to public facilities ranging from the New Orleans Superdome to a school maintenance facility in Calcasieu Parish. The largest portion of the funding reimbursed government agencies for debris removal in five parishes, five cities and by one state agency. More than 37 million cubic yards of debris have been removed in Louisiana; estimates indicate that more than 45 million cubic yards of storm debris will be collected, hauled, sorted and safely disposed of when the work is complete.

For debris removal, St. Bernard Parish received three grants totaling $88.6 million; St. Tammany Parish, three grants totaling $65.7 million; Jefferson Parish, one grant for $50.8 million; Plaquemines Parish, four grants totaling $24.5 million; and Washington Parish, two grants totaling $9.7 million. Several cities were awarded Public Assistance grants for debris removal: Kenner received $3.4 million; Vinton, $3 million; Slidell, $2.4 million; Gretna, $1.7 million; and Abita Springs, $1.1 million. Also, the state of Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development was awarded $21.8 million.

More than $19 million in public assistance was provided to help agencies recoup the extraordinary costs of maintaining and repairing essential public services after Hurricane Katrina. The Washington-St. Tammany Electric Cooperative received grants totaling $9.7 million; Valley Electric Membership Cooperative was awarded $1 million; St. Charles Parish Hospital Service District received $2.3 million; the Pointe a la Hache Harbor in Plaquemines Parish was awarded $1.5 million. Also, St. Bernard Parish received $1.7 million for sewer pump-out facilities and New Orleans was awarded $3 million for the costs of emergency crews to operate and maintain sewer and water facilities in the weeks immediately following Hurricane Katrina.

Educational institutions were awarded $25 million. Louisiana State University was awarded four grants totaling more than $21 million to clean and renovate, or lease and equip several facilities that serve the school and its medical facilities. St. Bernard Parish was awarded $1.2 million for 18 temporary classrooms and two office buildings to replace facilities lost to Hurricane Katrina. Jefferson Parish School Board received $1million to prepare a site for temporary housing. Calcasieu Parish School Board was awarded $1.7 million to replace the roof of the Maintenance Department Building at the Chennault Airfield which was damaged by Hurricane Rita.

FEMA awarded more than $28 million in public assistance grants to help two Louisiana law enforcement agencies recoup the costs of maintaining correctional services and motor fleet maintenance facilities. The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections was awarded two grants totaling nearly $27 million. The department evacuated 8,300 inmates to safer housing during the hurricanes and incurred expenses for transportation and custodial costs. The Sheriff's Department in Orleans Parish lost a vehicle maintenance equipment and facility and was awarded $1.2 million to rebuild on the existing slab.

More than $5 million in public assistance grants was provided to help three Louisiana agencies recoup the costs of recovery from Hurricane Katrina. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry was awarded $2.2 million for coordinating fuel distribution to run generators at several tent cities, soup kitchens, hospitals, nursing homes, police facilities, the Air National Guard, and to fuel buses used in the evacuation. The state's Department of Transportation and Development received $1.1 million for rebuilding eroded road shoulders after Hurricane Rita; and the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency received nearly $1.8 million to provide 200 interim housing units and utilities after the hurricanes.

In addition, FEMA provided more than $19 million in public assistance grants to help Louisiana communities restore cultural facilities damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The Superdome and Arena complex in New Orleans was awarded five grants totaling more than $14 million to clean and renovate the world famous sports and exposition facilities after damages from Hurricane Katrina and subsequent deterioration. Among the items are major restoration of the Superdome, plus new furnishings at the event level of the arena, and a new hardwood floor for Hornets basketball games.

The Municipal Auditorium in New Orleans is a historic building rendered useless by Hurricane Katrina; a grant of nearly $4 million will help to restore it to full use.

The Buras Auditorium in Plaquemines Parish is a multi-use community gathering place which was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina. FEMA awarded $1.2 million to replace the roof and rebuild the interior.

"Community gathering places are extremely important for commerce and culture in all cities and towns," said Scott Wells, federal coordinating officer for FEMA in Louisiana. "The Buras Auditorium has held high school proms, elections, plays, Orange Festival events and weddings for generations of Plaquemines residents. FEMA is honored to say 'We do' for Plaquemines Parish, for New Orleans and for all of the people of Louisiana."

FEMA's Public Assistance grant program is one way federal assistance gets to state and local governments and to certain private, non-profit organizations. These grants allow them to respond to disasters, recover from their impact and mitigate impact from future disasters. While these grants are aimed at governments and organizations, their final goal is to help a community and all its citizens to recover from devastating natural disasters. When grants are awarded, FEMA obligates and transfers money to the state, who administers the funds. Many more grants in addition to these 46 have been made, and more grants are in the works.

FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Last Modified: Monday, 10-Apr-2006 07:29:31