FEMA Funds Repairs To City Park's Drainage System and Waterlines
Release Date: December 22, 2008
Release Number: 1603-824
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NEW ORLEANS, La. -- New Orleans City Park will receive additional funding for Katrina-related repair work to the park's storm drainage system and waterlines, announced the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA).
"We enjoy a great working relationship with the FEMA team and are grateful that they have made the recovery of this great resource a priority," said Bob Becker, chief executive officer of New Orleans City Park. "We are extremely appreciative that FEMA continues to adjust their damage estimates to reflect the real amount of damage suffered by the park. The additional funding is tremendously important to repair damages to our water and drainage systems which in turn allow the park to provide service to the residents of the metropolitan area."
FEMA recently provided approximately $1.1 million to Louisiana's Office of Facility Planning and Control for restoration work to the park's drainage and water systems, which were both badly damaged as a result of debris and sediment accumulation from Hurricane Katrina. Damages include multiple waterline breaks that continue to leak and flood several areas of the park. The park's drainage system includes over 80,000 linear feet of pipe and over 450 catch basins.
Additional damage to the systems will likely be discovered throughout the construction and repair process. Immediately after the storm, the park served as a staging area for debris and heavy equipment. This extra aboveground pressure likely crushed underground pipes that were not initially damaged during Katrina.
"Being one of the oldest parks in the country, New Orleans City Park holds a special place in the hearts of generations of New Orleanians," said Jim Stark, director of FEMA's Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office. "FEMA's overall funding of more than $28.2 million to the park helps guarantee its full restoration so that it can be enjoyed by future generations as well."
In addition to funding the repair work to the drainage and water systems, FEMA has previously provided more than $27.1 million in public assistance funding to restore several other entities in the park, including repairs to the golf driving range, pavilions, the Botanical Gardens and tennis courts.
"Returning this park to the residents of New Orleans is essential for restoring a sense of community," said LRA Executive Director Paul Rainwater. "Cooperation from all state and federal agencies on fully funding this project has led us down this path."
When project funds are obligated by FEMA through its supplemental Public Assistance grant, the funds are transferred to a federal Smartlink account. Once the funds have reached this account the applicant can request reimbursement from GOHSEP for eligible work completed. 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.
During his first day in office, Governor Bobby Jindal issued an Executive Order directing the LRA to be responsible for the state's actions with regard to FEMA's Public Assistance program. The LRA is working in conjunction with GOHSEP and its federal partners to identify ways to streamline the Public Assistance process and improve efficiency, with the ultimate goal of cutting in half the length of time that applications spend in the process.
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.
Created in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita in 2005, the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) is the coordinating and planning body leading the most extensive rebuilding effort in American history. The central point for hurricane recovery in Louisiana, the LRA works closely with the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) and partners with state and federal agencies to oversee more than $20 billion worth of programs, speed the pace of rebuilding, remove hurdles and red tape and ensure that Louisiana recovers safer and stronger than before. For more information about the LRA and its 17-member board, visit lra.louisiana.gov.
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, 07-Jan-2009 08:35:00