Contacts News Desk: (504) 762-2477 External Affairs Director, Andrea Davis: (504) 247-6628 / An-drea.Davis1@dhs.gov Outreach Lead, Amy Connolly: (225) 678-6673 / Amy.Connolly@dhs.gov FEMAFEMA Housing Update Dec. 26 - Official Federal Christmas Holiday observed Jan. 2 - Official Federal New Year’s Day Holiday observed Jan. 17-19 - International Disaster Conference and Expo, New Orleans, LA Jan. 26 - Disaster Contrac-tor’s Industry Day in Shreveport, LA; more infor-mation to follow soon Calendar Louisiana Recovery Office New Orleans, LA FEMA: Week in Review Dec. 26 - Official Federal Christmas Holiday observed Jan. 2 - Official Federal New Year’s Day Holiday observed Jan. 17-19: International Disaster Conference and Expo, New Orleans, LA Jan. 26 - Disaster Contractor’s Industry Day in Shreveport, LA; more information to follow soon Holiday Travel Safety Tips Traveling this holiday season? Here are some travel safety tips: . If traveling by plane, give yourself enough time to arrive at the airport early; there will be longer than usual wait times for the holidays . If traveling by car, prepare for road closures and unexpected weather delays. Keep an emergency kit in your car. Stay up to date on the latest local forecast at www.weather.gov or mobile.weather.gov. Katrina/Rita: 20 units Gustav/Ike: 5 units December 2, 2011 Announcements Louisiana Recovery Office Revamps Environmental/Historic Preservation Alternative Arrangements Website Alternative Arrangements was developed in 2005 to address the incomplete information surrounding FEMA Public Assistance recovery projects in the New Orleans metropolitan area and their potential environmental effect on resources in the area. AA enables FEMA to consider the potential for significant direct, indirect and cumulative impacts to the human environment resulting from funding of reconstruction of critical physical infrastructure in metropolitan area through its PA grant program. This site has been set up to share with the public in order to enhance the efforts being made by FEMA in South Louisiana regarding the environmental compliance for proposed public infrastructure projects. In December 2005, FEMA, DHS and the Council on Environmental Quality agreed on an alternative arrangement to address those FEMA funded actions for the restoration of critical infrastructure in the New Orleans metropolitan area that was damaged as a result of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. AA enables timely review of FEMA PA grant applications to restore safe and healthful living conditions in the metropolitan area while observing the objectives of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). For more information, click on the section that includes information about Alternative Arrangements, Current Projects, Environmental Compliance, Public Outreach, Stakeholders and Partners, Q & A, Resources and Tools and Links to other agencies. The map on the right of the page will take you to each parish and allow access to their Record of Consideration. Check out the website: http://www.fema.gov/plan/ehp/noma/. Little Woods School Groundbreaking The Recovery School District and Orleans Parish School Board cele- brated another milestone in their recovery from Hurricane Katrina. A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Little Woods Elementary School in New Orleans East on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011. FEMA obligated a total of $27 million for the project. Representatives from the City of New Orleans Mayor’s Office, Orleans Parish School Board, Recovery School District, FEMA, GOHSEP, Congressman Cedric Rich-mond’s Office, Louisiana State Senate Representatives, City of New Orleans Council Mem-bers and BESE were all on hand to participate in the momentous event for the citizens of New Orleans East. Calendar Housing Update New Orleans, LA — The Recovery School District and Orleans Parish hosts a groundbreaking for Little Woods Elementary School in New Orleans East.