FEMA Announces $260 Million For New Orleans' Recovery Projects 

Release Date: August 24, 2009
Release Number: 1603-871

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NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) announced an additional $260.3 million for projects throughout the New Orleans area, including funding to Dillard University, Templeman Prison I and II and the Gaslight Apartments. These announcements bring the total public assistance funds obligated for Louisiana recovery projects since Jan. 20, 2009 to more than $1 billion.

"FEMA is working closely with our state and local partners to push money down into the hands of locals as quickly as possible," said FEMA's Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office Acting Director Tony Russell. "Our recent funding reflects these efforts to provide tremendous support so that projects can move toward completion."

For Dillard University, FEMA provided an additional $19.4 million as reimbursement for emergency protective measures done campus wide following Hurricane Katrina. These measures included site security, debris, mud and silt removal, dewatering of buildings, contents removal and building stabilization.

In the public safety arena, FEMA provided an additional $23.3 million to the city of New Orleans to fund the extra costs necessary to support the replacement of Templeman Prisons I and II. This supplemental funding resulted from comprehensive follow-up inspections, which estimated damages to be more than 50 percent of the costs necessary to replace the facility. Per FEMA policy, if damages surpass this threshold, funding is provided as a replacement project instead of a repair project.

Another $39.7 million was provided to Louisiana's Facility Planning and Control (FP&C) Office toward replacement of the Gaslight Square Apartments. FP&C plans to rebuild the project primarily as a senior living community, known as "Village De Jardin," instead of rebuilding the conventional apartment buildings that existed before Katrina. A community center, wellness center, clinic and nurse stations, library, game rooms and park area are also included in plans for the new facility, which is being funded as an "Improved Project" under FEMA's Public Assistance Program.

"It's encouraging to see this kind of progress after our efforts to improve the way that federal, state and local officials work together," said Paul Rainwater, executive director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority. "Obviously it is the citizens who benefit from the funds being made available to reimburse or complete projects such as these."

In addition to Dillard University, Templeman I and II and Gaslight Square Apartments, the following has been funded:

When FEMA approves projects 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 the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (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.

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's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Last Modified: Monday, 24-Aug-2009 14:58:54