FEMA Public Assistance Division Still Busy One Year after Katrina
Release Date: August 21, 2006
Release Number: 1603-535
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NEW ORLEANS, La. -- One year after the largest natural disaster in United States history, the Public Assistance division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is still working non-stop to assist in the rebuilding of schools, hospitals, jails and fire and police stations.
FEMA's Public Assistance program provides funding for emergency services as well as the repair and rebuilding of damaged infrastructure to its pre-disaster condition. Public Assistance employees work with the state, local governments, and certain non-profit agencies to assess damages and provide technical assistance. Once funding is approved, the state is responsible for distributing the money.
During the past year, FEMA's Public Assistance department has worked with more than 1,346 eligible applicants from nearly every parish in Louisiana . As of August 2006, a total of $3 billion has been obligated for Katrina-related Public Assistance projects, and more than 46 million cubic yards of debris has been removed from parishes in the southern part of the state. To put this in perspective, this amount of debris would fill up approximately 2.3 million regular size garbage trucks.
"It's been a long year filled with challenges," said Judy Martinez, Public Assistance section chief for FEMA's Transitional Recovery Office in Louisiana . "Our main goal right now is moving from response to recovery, and that includes rebuilding of hundreds of facilities across the state. It will take time, but FEMA isn't going anywhere."
Other significant Public Assistance grants include:
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The Louisiana Superdome, was obligated $94 million for the renovation of its nearly two-million-square-foot facility;
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The Audubon Commission, was obligated $2.1 million to repair and rebuild not only the zoo, but also the Aquarium of the Americas and the Species Survival Center ;
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The St. Bernard Sheriff's Office, was obligated $1.8 million for replacement of 120 fleet vehicles;
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Charity Hospital in New Orleans, which has been obligated $20 million for renovation of various buildings, and work on their electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 23-Aug-2006 07:15:53