[StBernard] St. Bernard warned on flood insurance

[Westley Annis]

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 
 
By Karen Turni Bazile
 
St. Bernard Parish's participation in the National Flood Insurance Program
could be jeopardized because of what a state official calls an experience
vacuum that will be left when Mike Hunnicutt, director of community
development, leaves his job this week. 
 
Some council members echoed the concern, but acting Chief Administrative
Officer Dave Peralta said two employees remaining in the department will be
trained to manage permit issues regarding flood insurance and elevation
issues. 
 
Hunnicutt resigned last week, issuing an impassioned memo citing concerns
about changes Parish President Henry "Junior" Rodriguez made in his office's
administration. Rodriguez said he split the department in two to expedite
the issuance of permits, but Hunnicutt claims the changes resulted in at
least 14 flawed permits, including some that had inaccurate elevation
information. 
 
More than 200 municipal and parish governments participate in the national
insurance program, said Clyde Martin, chief of federal programs for the
state Department of Transportation and Development. Martin is in charge of
compliance with the insurance program. 
 
Even though not all the cities and states have a certified floodplain
manager on staff, Martin said St. Bernard is at a critical point because its
staff is decimated and because Hunnicutt was a strong voice on floodplain
management at the state and federal level, having spoken at a recent
national conference and having testified at FEMA's request before Congress
on flood insurance issues. 
 
Martin, who was the parish's public works director until February and had
worked with Hunnicutt on new local flood maps for the parish's insurance
program, said he will write a letter to the parish citing his concerns that
someone must be sent to a training conference next week. 
 
"They are losing a knowledgeable individual," Martin said. "Becoming a
certified floodplain manager by the Association of Floodplain Managers takes
education and training, and you have to pass a comprehensive test." 
 
Although he has only heard from news reports of Hunnicutt's memo about the
questionable permits, he said inaccuracies with flood zones and elevations
on building permits can compromise the parish's status with the National
Flood Insurance Program. Just recently, Martin said, the state warned
Lafourche Parish that it could be put on probation if it doesn't correct
problems in administering permits. 
 
Parish Councilman Mark Madary also questioned Rodriguez's decision to divide
Hunnicutt's department. After the change in mid-May, Hunnicutt was in charge
of reviewing permits for new construction and for building demolished to the
slab. A separate office staff reviews renovation permits. 
 
"Not only is Mike a floodplain manager, he is the floodplain chairman" for
the Louisiana Floodplain Management Association, Madary said. "Now we are
going to lack his 16 years of expertise at the most critical juncture of our
redevelopment." 
Madary said he is concerned that Rodriguez is too lax in following federal
regulations. Madary noted Rodriguez publicly disagreed with Hunnicutt at a
town hall meeting on flood insurance issues in Chalmette Saturday. 
 
Rodriguez said residents shouldn't be required to have a permit to prove
they started to rebuild before the expected change in elevation
requirements, but Hunnicutt said a permit would be required to remain
eligible for flood insurance program. 
 
Peralta said he disagreed there was any problems with the newly structured
offices. He said the permits Hunnicutt questioned have been corrected, and
he said he plans to quickly get his employees trained. 
 
"I'll have a certified floodplain manager," Peralta said. 
 
Gina Hayes, who is in charge of part of Hunnicutt's department since his
resignation, said last week that she plans to attend a training conference
in October. However, Peralta said Monday that he will send two employees for
training this month. 
Hunnicutt remains on the payroll until July 27, Peralta said, but will not
be helping residents with permit issues after Friday. Instead he will be
working with administrators to wrap up changes to subdivision and planning
laws that were in the works before his announced resignation. 
 
Besides Hunnicutt's quitting, Finance Director Geremie Loupe also announced
that this Friday will be his last day.