Tulane's Library To Benefit From Additional FEMA Funding
Release Date: September 2, 2009
Release Number: 1603-873
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NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Only a month after providing $32.9 million in federal funding to reconcile costs for Katrina-related repair work done across Tulane's campuses, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) are announcing an additional $16 million obligated for the university to mitigate its Howard Tilton Memorial Library against future storm damages.
As a result of Hurricane Katrina, many facilities throughout New Orleans flooded, including numerous buildings on Tulane University's uptown campus. One of these buildings was the Howard Tilton Memorial Library, which incurred water in its basement and first floor.
The basement housed the library's critical mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) equipment, which, after being completely submerged in flood waters for the duration of the storm and the days that followed, was severely damaged and nonoperational.
"While we previously obligated funding to help cover costs necessary to repair Tulane University's storm-damaged facilities," said FEMA's Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office Acting Director Tony Russell, "our recent public assistance grant was provided to help Tulane alleviate future damages by elevating critical equipment--previously stored in its basement--to a new rooftop facility that will be built out specifically for this mitigation project."
The new rooftop facility will consist of a 62,931 square-foot, two-story addition. This addition will be constructed utilizing the existing structural grid system, which was originally designed to accommodate four additional floors.
In addition to providing a higher storage location for crucial MEP equipment, library collections from the basements of the Howard Tilton Memorial Library and the Jones Memorial Hall will be relocated to this facility to reduce their risk of future flood damages as well. This includes vital U.S. government documents that are now being stored at an off-campus site. Once FEMA funds are received and construction of the two new floors is complete, these important documents will once again be available to the campus and community.
LRA Executive Director Paul Rainwater said, "Mitigation is vital to protecting our communities against future disasters. By providing funds for Tulane to move this equipment and the library collections out of the basement, FEMA is helping the university to rebuild safer, smarter and stronger."
"We are pleased that FEMA and GOHSEP are processing our claims more quickly and look forward to receiving the funds obligated," said Tulane University President Scott Cowen.
Overall, FEMA has provided approximately $111 million to date to Tulane University for work related to the university's post-Katrina rebuilding efforts.
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.
In general, FEMA's Section 406 Mitigation funding can only be applied to the damaged elements of a facility rather than to other, undamaged parts. These measures are considered by FEMA to be part of the total eligible cost of a repair or replacement project, and the applicant may not apply mitigation funding to alternate projects or improved projects if a new replacement facility is involved.
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.
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: Thursday, 03-Sep-2009 08:29:44