[StBernard] In Unanimous Vote, Plaquemines Parish Adopts Flood Elevation Guidelines

[Westley Annis]

In Unanimous Vote, Plaquemines Parish Adopts Flood Elevation Guidelines

Approval Clears Way for Up to $64.2 Million in Recovery Funding

BATON ROUGE, La. (January 25, 2007) - The Plaquemines Parish Council today voted unanimously to adopt the Advisory Base Flood Elevations (ABFE) as recommended by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and required by the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA), clearing the way for a total of up to $64.2 million to the parish for repair and rebuilding efforts. 

Now that the parish has adopted the new guidelines, it is also eligible to receive $13 million for parish recovery projects, $19.7 million in shared costs for repairs to public schools and up to $26 million in shared costs for repairs to government buildings. In addition, the Council's action makes $5.5 million available to help raise area homes and public buildings to a safer elevation. 

"Today's vote demonstrates President Nungesser's and the Council's steadfast commitment to rebuilding safer, stronger and smarter," said LRA board member Rene Cross. "It's our hope that this additional funding accelerates their efforts toward a speedy and successful recovery."

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

The following parishes and municipalities previously adopted the ABFE guidelines: Calcasieu, Lake Charles, Sulphur, Vinton, Westlake, Cameron, Iberia, Jeanerette, New Iberia, Jefferson, Grand Isle, Gretna, Harahan, Jean Lafitte, Kenner, Westwego, Golden Meadow, Lockport, Thibodeaux, Orleans, St. Charles, St. Mary, Baldwin, Franklin, Morgan City, St. Tammany, Madisonville, Slidell, Tangipahoa, Ponchatoula, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Abbeville and Delcambre. 

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated South Louisiana, claiming 1,464 lives, 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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