FROM: U.S. FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCYNEW ORLEANS –The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently announced more than $5.5 million in consolidated funding to Plaquemines Parish for their proposed, post-Katrina government complex project.
“In support of their recovery endeavors, Plaquemines Parish has been approved to use eligible FEMA funding from 11 storm-damaged donor facilities toward their new government complex project,” said FEMA’s Louisiana Recovery Office Deputy Director of Programs Andre Cadogan. “Such flexibility within FEMA’s Public Assistance Program enables local communities to rebuild based on their post-disaster needs.”
Design plans for the post-Katrina project—which will be located in upper Plaquemines Parish in a reduced-risk flooding area, known as an “a-zone”— are currently underway. Plans are also in progress within Plaquemines Parish to expand the complex site even further, potentially developing it to include an emergency operations center, community recreational facilities and retail space.
“We would like to thank the FEMA team for working with us to fund the construction of the government complex. This will save Plaquemines Parish taxpayers money in the long run and place government operations in the safest part of the parish,” said Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser.
The Plaquemines Parish government complex project will provide office space for various local government departments. The pre-Katrina Plaquemines Parish government building will remain in Port Sulphur to provide additional space for government council offices, a polling place, record storage and a meeting place for lower Plaquemines Parish.
This pre-Katrina government building was not one of the 11 donor facilities in the new government complex project, which instead includes consolidated FEMA-funding previously allocated for facilities such as the District 1 Council Office, the Pointe a La Hache Old Jail and the “Buras Old Fire Station” Warehouse.
In total, FEMA has provided approximately $813.5 million for hurricanes Katrina and Rita recovery efforts throughout Plaquemines Parish.
When FEMA approves projects through its supplemental Public Assistance grant, the funds are made available to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness, who disburses them to the applicant 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.
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.
