[StBernard] St. Charles Parish Adopts Flood Elevation Guidelines; Clears Way for Hazard Mitigation Money

[Westley Annis]

St. Charles Parish Adopts Flood Elevation Guidelines; Approval Clears Way for Hazard Mitigation Money

BATON ROUGE, La. (October 18, 2006) - The St. Charles Parish Council agreed to adopt the Advisory Base Flood Elevations (ABFE) on Monday as recommended by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and required by the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA), clearing the way for $3 million to help raise area homes to a safer elevation. Now that the parish has adopted the new guidelines, it is also eligible to receive a ten percent cost share match from the State to repair critical pieces of local infrastructure including roads, bridges and public buildings. 

"The St. Charles Parish Council made a tough, but smart decision," said Tim Coulon, LRA Board Member. "This vote is a symbol of their commitment to rebuild safer, stronger and smarter." 

The parish's recent adoption also makes funding available for various hazard mitigation grant programs aimed at reducing losses in future disasters. This is only the first of several hazard mitigation projects in St. Charles Parish to be recommended to FEMA for funding. Additional recommendations are forthcoming now that the parish has adopted the ABFE. 

St. Charles Parish is the eleventh parish, out of 15, to approve the guidelines. 

Parishes that have not adopted elevation guidelines by October 29, 2006, will not be eligible to apply for more than $250 million in elevation grants. 

Parishes that fail to adopt the ABFE as recommended by FEMA will not be eligible for the cost sharing program or additional funds for hazard mitigation. 

The following parishes have adopted the guidelines:
Calcasieu
Cameron
Vermilion
Iberia
St. Mary
Terrebonne
Jefferson
Orleans
Tangipahoa
St. Tammany 
St. Charles 

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated South Louisiana, destroying more than 200,000 homes and 18,000 businesses. The Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) is the planning and coordinating body that was created in the aftermath of these storms by Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco to lead one of the most extensive rebuilding efforts in the world. The LRA is a 33-member body which is coordinating across jurisdictions, supporting community recovery and resurgence, ensuring integrity and effectiveness, and planning for the recovery and rebuilding of Louisiana.

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