Schools Open In Bay St. Louis
FEMA, Local, State, Federal Partners Provide Temporary Classrooms
Release Date: November 7, 2005
Release Number: 1604-119
» More Information on Mississippi Hurricane Katrina
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 Dr. Kim Stasny, Superintendent (blue shirt) cuts the ribbon to re-open North Bay Elementary school along with students, teachers and representatives of FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Waveland/Bay St. Louis schools have been closed since the landfall of Hurricane Katrina on August 29th. FEMA/Mark Wolfe |
JACKSON, Miss. -- Students from Mississippi’s Gulf Coast returned to school today and stepped into brand-new modular classrooms, thanks to the collaborative efforts of local and state officials, the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
“This is another example of the ongoing cooperative effort between Mississippi officials, FEMA and the USACE to provide temporary educational facilities to the school districts that were so severely impacted by Katrina,” said Nick Russo, FEMA’s deputy federal coordinating officer in Mississippi.
While the process for providing the temporary classrooms involves numerous phases, the USACE has been working quickly to fill the requests of the Mississippi Department of Education. Of the 466 requested classroom units, 324 have been delivered and 188 have been installed and made ready for occupancy. More than 300 schools in the state were damaged or destroyed after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast Aug. 29, 2005.
“These plain, modular classrooms mean everything to families, communities, and students who have lost stability and normalcy,” said Michael Logue, Chief of Public Affairs, Vicksburg District, USACE. “Some of the students may still be playing band with cardboard boxes and sticks, but they are totally excited to be back in class, and it is all because their world is starting to look right again. That is what we deliver for FEMA and the State of Mississippi - - stability and a place to begin again for these young people and their communities.”
“Hurricane Katrina devastated our schools and these classrooms are just what we need to help us as we rebuild,” said State Superintendent Dr. Hank M. Bounds.
The modular classrooms are constructed with wood frames, insulation and aluminum siding and range in size from 24 feet-by-36 feet to 24-feet-by-60 feet. Small classroom units hold up to 30 students, while the larger units are designed to accommodate up to 60. Each classroom includes whiteboards and bulletin boards as well as carpeting, windows, air conditioning and heat. Units for elementary grades have restrooms, and some have wood ramps and decks. The cost of each new temporary classroom is approximately $117,000 which includes the cost of the trailer, delivery, site preparation, utilities, walkways and parking areas.
“They are really beautiful, very clean and spacious,” said Robin Craft, a teacher at North Bay Elementary School in Bay St. Louis. “Even though we’ve lost a lot, we know we have a lot of catching up to do – academically and with students’ emotional needs – but we’re trying to stay positive.”
Twenty-six cities will receive the temporary classrooms. These include: Biloxi, Brooklyn, Bay St. Louis, Carriere, Crystal Springs, D’Iberville, Gautier, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Heidelberg, Kiln, Long Beach, Moss Point, New Augusta, Ocean Springs, Pascagoula, Pass Christian, Picayune, Poplarville, Purvis, Saucier, Stringer, Sumrall, Waveland, Wesson and Vancleave.
The Mississippi Department of Education is in the process of determining the total estimated cost of rebuilding and repairing the damaged schools left in the wake of Katrina.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 09-Nov-2005 10:25:51