Deputy Administrator Johnson Visits Gulf Coast
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Deputy Administrator and Chief Operating Officer, Harvey Johnson visited Louisiana and Mississippi January 17th and 18th to evaluate the rebuilding efforts along the Gulf Coast.
On Thursday, Johnson toured facilities that had been flooded and were in various stages of repair, using funds from FEMA's Public Assistance program. Johnson met with Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff Marlin Gusman; Marcia St. Martin, Executive Director for the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans; Paul Vallas, Superintendent of Louisiana Recovery School District; and Doris Hicks, Principal at Martin Luther King School in the lower ninth ward. Later that afternoon, FEMA and State officials hosted a meeting with the southeast Louisiana parish presidents, to hear their concerns and suggestions for improving FEMA's public assistance program.
Friday's trip to Mississippi included meetings and tours to get a first hand look at the recovery efforts in Hancock and Harrison County. Admiral Johnson met with Dr. Michael Ladner, Superintendent, Catholic Diocese Schools and local officials from Hancock County before touring unoccupied Katrina cottages at the Alternate Housing Pilot Program (AHPP) staging area..
During the two-day tour, Admiral Johnson met with local leaders and officials and listened to stories of their successes and frustrations with the recovery process. He pledged to continue work in implementing reforms to simplify the recovery process.
Admiral Johnson conducted All Hands meetings at FEMA's Louisiana and Mississippi Transitional Recovery Offices and thanked employees for their hard work and dedication to the recovery.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 23-Jan-2008 15:13:23 EST