Nunez Community College Benefits From Additional FEMA Funding 

Release Date: September 15, 2009
Release Number: 1603-875

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ST. BERNARD PARISH, La. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) recently announced an additional $3.1 million in federal funding to replace Nunez Community College's Administration Building.

Like most facilities throughout the parish, Nunez Community College was completely devastated by Katrina's impact; nevertheless, the higher education facility quickly reestablished itself and resumed classes on campus within months following the storm.

"Immediately following Hurricane Katrina, the Nunez administrators worked diligently and relentlessly to bring the college back on-line for the benefit of their students and larger community," said FEMA's Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office Acting Director Tony Russell. "Now with FEMA's recent grant, the administrators who worked so hard to rebuild the school will have a new facility as well."

"Our technical and community colleges have an important place in our state's higher educational system," said Paul Rainwater, executive director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority. "We applaud the Nunez officials who worked to reopen the college so quickly after Katrina, as well as FEMA for allocating the funds to provide a new administration building for their campus."

The one-story, 15,660-square-foot Administration Building suffered both interior and exterior damages during Hurricane Katrina. These damages were the result of approximately seven feet of floodwaters, which engulfed the facility and spurred mold growth and deposited sediment throughout the building. Once the waters receded, because of the extent of damages and the school's desire to reopen as soon as possible, clean-up crews completely gutted the building.

Since then, the administration has operated out of the Arts, Science and Technology building, which was repaired with FEMA funds following the storm. While the Administration Building currently remains gutted, its overall damages from Hurricane Katrina have deemed the facility eligible for FEMA replacement funding. FEMA's latest grant to Louisiana's Office of Facility Planning and Control supports this recent project determination.

"We are pleased to hear that FEMA and LRA have approved additional funding to replace the Nunez Community College Administration Building," said Dr. Thomas R. Warner, chancellor of Nunez Community College. 
"This will alleviate much of the severe administrative congestion we have had to deal with, including overcrowded conditions in the areas of student services, business functions, institutional advancement and the Chancellor's office."

Demolition plans for the existing Administration Building are in progress, and the new construction of the building will follow afterward. To date, the federal agency has provided more than $3.8 million for the replacement of the Administration building, and $23 million for the overall restoration of Nunez Community College.

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.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated South Louisiana, claiming 1,464 lives, destroying more than 200,000 homes and 18,000 businesses. The Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) is the planning and coordinating body that was created in the aftermath of these storms to lead one of the most extensive rebuilding efforts in the world. The LRA is a 33-member body which is coordinating across jurisdictions, supporting community recovery and resurgence, ensuring integrity and effectiveness, and planning for the recovery and rebuilding of Louisiana.

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: Tuesday, 15-Sep-2009 10:51:04