Salmen High School Receives Federal Funds
Release Date: April 18, 2007
Release Number: 1603-625
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NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The 870 students who attended Salmen High School in St. Tammany Parish were forced to find alternate schooling after Hurricane Katrina rendered their campus unusable. Now, with recently obligated funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the school will be able to replace 20 buildings on its campus and return to teaching the area students.
When projects are obligated by FEMA, the funds are transferred to a Smartlink account. This allows the state to work with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness as quickly as possible to access the monies and distribute them to the local applicants. The state may require additional documentation from the applicant before disbursals are made.
“We must continue to focus on rebuilding our schools to continue the education of our children. One day, they will shape the future of Louisiana,” said Jim Stark, director of the Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office.
Constructed in 1965, the 20 buildings damaged by the hurricane encompass a combined area of 153,984 square feet and contain multiple-disciplinary classrooms, administrative offices, a kitchen/cafeteria, restrooms and a gymnasium.
Storm surge, standing water and high winds destroyed a majority of the complex, including concrete masonry walls, flooring, doors, windows, hardware, wooden bleachers and gymnasium flooring. The $20 million in federal funds will reimburse the St. Tammany Parish School Board for work performed to these crucial elements, as well as for the replacement of all electrical, mechanical, and heating and air conditioning systems. All commercial kitchen appliances, plumbing fixtures and an automated sprinkler system will be replaced as well.
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 and recreation centers, 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: Wednesday, 18-Apr-2007 10:23:56