[StBernard] Plaquesmines, St. Bernard Louisiana Get Federal Help

[Westley Annis]

U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon today announced that St. Bernard and Plaquemines
Parishes would receive $4,571,597.60 in federal disaster aid grants from the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security´s Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA).  The grants will reimburse the parishes for disaster relief costs.  

"Rebuilding the schools and libraries in St. Bernard and Plaquemines
Parishes is an important first step in bringing people home," said Melancon.
"I will continue working with the rest of the Louisiana delegation to
pressure Congress and the Administration to honor their commitment to
rebuild the Gulf Coast bigger and better than ever."  

The following grants were announced today for St. Bernard and Plaquemines
Parishes:

·       $1,088,191.03 to Rebuild Junior High School in Port Sulphur.  The
Port Sulphur High School campus was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina´s
strong wind and storm surge.  Floodwaters reached 11 feet within the junior
high school building.  This grant from FEMA´s Public Assistance Program will
reimburse the Plaquemines Parish School Board for the cost of rebuilding the
junior high school building. This two-story, 14,892 square feet steel-framed
structure was constructed in the 1980s.  

·       $3,483,406.57 to Help St. Bernard Parish Library Replace Contents.
Hurricane Katrina produced catastrophic flooding and hurricane force winds
which resulted in major damages to St Bernard Parish Public Library.  The
building was flooded, resulting in four feet of standing water.  This grant
will reimburse the library for the cost of restoring books, multi media,
office and library supplies, computers and various library related software.


FEMA obligates funding for these projects directly to the State.  The State
is responsible for ensuring that eligible sub-grantees, in this case the
Plaquemines Parish School Board and St. Bernard Parish Library, receive
these awards.  Following the State´s review process and upon receipt of
appropriate documentation, they will provide funds to the sub-grantees on a
reimbursable basis.

(source: Melancon press release)