Millions More In Federal Funding "Hit The Streets" In St. Bernard
Release Date: October 28, 2009
Release Number: 1603-885
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NEW ORLEANS , La. -- Only three months after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) announced $13.8 million for St. Bernard Parish’s roadway restoration project, the three agencies announced another $70.6 million to support the post-Katrina recovery project.
“The streets of St. Bernard Parish were so greatly damaged by Hurricane Katrina that residents’ travels throughout their communities were often impeded,” said FEMA’s Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office Acting Director Tony Russell. “As a result, Parish President Craig Taffaro Jr. has developed a plan to repair this critical infrastructure. And, in unison with our state partners, we’ve continued to provide eligible funding as the actual scope of this recovery project increases.”
The federal agency’s recent funding of $70.6 million covers damages that were not originally included in previous obligations for St. Bernard’s roadways. This supplementary flow of recovery dollars is concurrent with FEMA’s policy, whereby all public assistance grants provided are “living grants.” This means that as additional eligible damages are found and documented, the agency will continue to obligate recovery dollars accordingly.
“St. Bernard’s growth and recovery continues to benefit when FEMA, the Governor’s Office and St. Bernard Parish Government officials reach milestone cooperative agreements such as this wide-reaching $70.6 million public assistance grant that is absolutely critical to repairing miles and miles of roads damaged by Hurricane Katrina,” President Taffaro said.
In order to identify Hurricane Katrina damages, FEMA, the state and parish representatives jointly “walked the streets,” assessing hundreds of miles of roadways throughout St. Bernard.
“This is an important investment in the future of St. Bernard Parish, and another example of what can happen when federal, state and local officials work together to truly assess the recovery needs of our citizens,” said Paul Rainwater, executive director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority.
To date, FEMA has provided a combined total of $84.4 in public assistance for St. Bernard Parish’s roadway restoration project, which is currently underway.
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 GOHSEP for eligible work completed.
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.
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 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: Wednesday, 28-Oct-2009 08:52:23