FEMA Provides Funding to Retrofit Water Treatment Plant in St. James Parish
Release Date: March 13, 2007
Release Number: 1603-610
» More Information on Louisiana Hurricane Katrina
» More Information on Louisiana Hurricane Rita
NEW ORLEANS, La. -- A recently approved grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will help the state of Louisiana retrofit the Vacherie Water Treatment Plant, protecting the building from future hurricanes and severe weather.
"Nearly 9,000 residents of St. James Parish rely on the clean water produced by the Vacherie plant. By strengthening the plant's defenses against future storms, we preserve a valuable resource necessary to sustain the members of this community," said Jim Stark, director of the Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office.
Funding from this $534,660 FEMA Hazard Mitigation Program grant will be used to elevate the plant's electrical panels and controls and to install Miami Dade level hurricane shutters, minimizing damage that can be caused by high winds, flooding and other hazards. The structure will also be brought into compliance with the International Building Code standards. Aside from reducing the risk of future damages, these mitigation measures will reduce potential interruption of service from storm-related events.
St. James Parish President Dale Hymel, Jr. said, "Hurricane Katrina taught us many tough lessons about preparedness. Perhaps the greatest lesson was how important maintaining public infrastructure is during response, but even more so in recovery. People depend on governmental services each and every day, and any disruption in those services can have a critical domino effect on people's lives.
"The federal, state, and local government exists to serve and protect our citizens. The Hazard Mitigation Program is an important tool in obtaining that objective. St. James Parish is committed to working with all levels of government to assist, protect and provide for all our citizens."
The HMGP provides grants to states and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration, to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA works closely with state and local emergency managers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters and other first responders. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 13-Mar-2007 12:55:14