[StBernard] [LANDRIEU] CNN Keeps FEMA Honest with Report on Agency's Broken Promises to La. Schools

[Westley Annis]

CNN Keeps FEMA Honest with Report on Agency's Broken Promises to La. Schools



WASHINGTON - CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 last night continued their ongoing
"Keeping Them Honest" series of coverage on the aftermath of Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita and the flooding that followed with a segment on the
Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) recent reneging on a promise to
pay for the relocation of two elementary schools devastated by Hurricane
Rita.

Peebles Elementary School in Iberia Parish had received assurance months ago
that FEMA would pay to move the school out of the floodplain, and Henry
Elementary in Vermillion Parish received similar assurances more than a year
ago.  But when new management arrived at FEMA's New Orleans offices a few
weeks ago, the agency reversed course and withdrew both commitments.

U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., had sent two letters to FEMA Director
David Paulison asking him to ensure FEMA keeps its word.  "[This] is a prime
example of FEMA's gross mishandling of its mission as it relates to
rebuilding and reestablishing schools in the wake of an extraordinary
natural disaster as was Hurricane Rita," Sen. Landrieu wrote.  "Furthermore,
FEMA's latest position in these two specific cases actually would encourage
school systems to rebuild in flood-prone areas which is totally contrary to
FEMA's supposed central mission of hazard mitigation. I again urge you to
take swift and decisive action on this matter so that innocent school
children will have a safe, permanent place to get an education as soon as
possible."

Video of CNN's report is available at
http://landrieu.senate.gov/news/peebles.cfm.

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