[StBernard] New Planning Tool Available through LouisianaSpeaks.Org

[Westley Annis]

Planners, Stakeholders & the Public Encouraged to Visit


Baton Rouge, LA-Today the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) and the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency's
(FEMA) Long-Term Community Recovery (LTCR) team is launching a new web-based
Parish Recovery Planning Tool (RPT). Planners, government leaders, community
organizations, stakeholders and the public will be able to use the Parish
RPT to view recovery planning efforts in Louisiana parishes impacted by
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 

Created by the Louisiana LTCR team, in partnership with federal agencies and
the LRA, the Parish RPT represents an important step in Louisiana recovery
planning and is a significant contribution from FEMA to continued recovery
planning in Louisiana. 

"This dynamic and interactive new tool will support ongoing recovery efforts
and help facilitate continued planning at the parish level," said Andy
Kopplin, Executive Director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority. "By
providing access to large amounts of community-specific planning
information, the tool adds simplicity to what is otherwise a complex
process."

A web demonstration and press conference is scheduled for Monday, March 20,
2006, at 1:30 p.m. in conference Room A of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation
which is located at 402 N. Fourth Street in Baton Rouge, LA.

To access the web-based planning tool, go to www.LouisianaSpeaks.Org
<http://keelson.eatel.net/websites/la.gov/action.cfm?md=communication&task=a
ddClick&msg_ID=1252&ID=dzjlkQm%3FlYmX&redirect=http://www.LouisianaSpeaks.Or
g>  and click on the Parish RPT icon.

In addition to recovery planning, the Parish RPT facilitates planning
management and project implementation. Project information can be accessed
by parish or by one of nine sectors -Environmental Management, Housing and
Community Redevelopment, Economic and Workforce Development, Public Health
and Healthcare, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education, Public Safety,
Human Services and Flood Protection and Coastal Restoration. Sectors
represent areas of specific interest to Louisiana recovery. 

Project implementation tracking is also available. 

"The Parish RPT is the first of its kind and represents an exciting new
dimension in community-based recovery planning," said Walter Melnick, Deputy
Director of FEMA's Long Term Community Recovery team. "Recovery planning
information from multiple parishes can be shared through the use of the
Parish RPT, encouraging cooperation and collaboration among federal, state
and local recovery stakeholders," Melnick continued.

Since October, LTCR Planning Teams have been working with local officials
and community residents in impacted parishes to develop parish-specific
recovery plans. Through this process, each parish crafted its own vision,
identified goals and priorities, conducted needs assessments, developed a
community baseline and identified priority projects. 

While many projects are important to the community, not all
community-identified projects are included in the Parish RPT. Some ideas are
not specific to recovery. Others may need additional study. Still, others
may be included in other recovery efforts or


Programs - such as the FEMA Public Assistance program, the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers levee projects currently underway or planned for. Because the
LTCR process is designed to support and compliment existing community
planning, projects found in existing community planning activities such as
comprehensive, mitigation or transportation planning, may also not be
included in the Parish RPT.

Recovery projects included in the Parish RPT are ones that directly address
the needs resulting from the disaster and are additional to those already
planned through other programs. Higher recovery value projects are
consistent with community recovery visioning and goals, focus on overall
community recovery and can achieve multiple recovery benefits. Recovery
projects that are "catalytic" to recovery in that they "jump start"
community recovery efforts or are necessary for other recovery projects to
progress, are included. Instead of a listing of capital improvement projects
or those that only address pre-disaster conditions, recovery projects
provide an opportunity for a community to improve upon pre-disaster
conditions and leverage recovery resources in a sustainable manner. 

Key community planning leadership, in partnership with the LRA, will be able
to update their plans on the Parish RPT to reflect changing conditions as
new community needs are identified. Today's press conference includes a
demonstration of the Parish RPT's capabilities and adaptability to support
continuing community-driven planning. 

Individual sources for Parish RPT project funding must be identified and
pursued and inclusion in the Parish RPT is not an indication that projects
will be funded. Potential funds needed are estimates that have also been
developed by individual parish participants.

The Parish RPT builds local capacity to develop grant applications and
pursue other funding processes by capturing project descriptions and other
important information needed by prospective funding partners.

The LTCR effort has been coordinated through a partnership of the LRA and
FEMA as a part of LOUISIANA SPEAKS. State partners include Louisiana Office
of the Governor, Louisiana Departments of Health and Hospitals,
Transportation and Development, Wildlife and Fisheries, Louisiana Housing
Finance Agency Office of Community Development and Center for Planning
Excellence. Participating federal agencies include the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers; the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services,
Housing and Urban Development, Transportation; the U.S. Economic Development
Agency; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Small
Business Administration.

LOUISIANA SPEAKS is a multifaceted planning process designed to develop a
sustainable, long-term vision for South Louisiana in the wake of the
destruction caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This work combines the
efforts of local, state and federal partners along with many experts,
stakeholders and citizens into a comprehensive approach.

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national
incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and
local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. 

The Louisiana Recovery Authority is the planning and coordinating body that
was created in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita by Governor
Kathleen Babineaux Blanco to plan for the recovery and rebuilding of
Louisiana.

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