New Orleans Criminal Justice Recovery Advances With FEMA's Help
Release Date: August 27, 2007
Release Number: 1603-689
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NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Hurricane Katrina devastated much of the criminal justice infrastructure in New Orleans, leaving parts of the court and law enforcement systems in disarray. Federal monies empower the city's law enforcement capabilities to regain their pre-Katrina strengths.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been working aggressively with the city of New Orleans (CNO) and the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff's Office to expedite the recovery of criminal justice projects. New Orleans' damaged court and law enforcement sectors have benefited from FEMA's financial assistance.
The Criminal Court Building is currently operational. Additional repairs to the building, which include roof repairs, should be completed by March. Repairs to the Municipal and Traffic Courthouse should be done by December 2008, while the District Attorney's Office should be repaired by December 2008.
FEMA has paid for 47 trailers and a temporary crime lab for the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD). These trailers are temporary solutions for the NOPD while the CNO completes the design phase for permanent repairs. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing repairs to the NOPD headquarters are currently underway.
Inmate facilities also are making headway. Repairs to the Orleans Parish Prison, a maximum security facility that houses 788 inmates, are due to be completed by March. Extensive repairs are underway to the House of Detention, which houses 1,200 inmates.
"FEMA will continue to provide technical and financial assistance to resolve remaining criminal justice issues in the city," FEMA's Director of the Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office Jim Stark said. "We support a strong and viable criminal justice system for New Orleans."
FEMA has obligated more than $286.9 million toward criminal justice projects in New Orleans.
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 city of New Orleans and the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff's Office, 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: Monday, 27-Aug-2007 09:12:33