Cameron Parish School Reopens Doors with FEMA Assistance 

Release Date: September 20, 2007
Release Number: 1603-720

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CAMERON, La. -- One school in Cameron may be small, but it did not go unnoticed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Johnson Bayou High School's 143 students recently began classes back in their permanent facility, nearly two years after it was devastated by Hurricane Rita. FEMA paid to fund repairs to the school, allowing it to reopen for this school year.

The school's students, who are in grades K-12, had been forced into temporary facilities after the hurricane's 10 foot storm surge caused significant damages to the building. The 1960's facility suffered severe flood and wind damages.

While the school has not reached its pre-Rita enrollment of more than 190 students, Cameron Parish Superintendent Stephanie Rodrigue said Johnson Bayou is growing. The school added 11 students this year. She said FEMA was "awesome" in its dedicated effort to assist in reopening the school.

"We were able to start the first day of school in a wonderfully restored building," Rodrigue added. "There's no way we could have done that on our own."

More than $3.7 million has been obligated for replacement and repairs to the permanent facility, while an additional $82,163 went toward temporary facilities. When projects are obligated by FEMA through its supplemental Public Assistance grant, the funds are transferred to a Smartlink account. This allows the applicant, in this case the Cameron Parish School Board, to work with the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness as quickly as possible to access the reimbursement monies. The state may require additional documentation from the applicant before disbursing the funds. Obligated funds may change over time as the project worksheet is a living grant that is often adjusted as bids come in and scope of work is aligned.

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, 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: Thursday, 20-Sep-2007 08:18:48