[StBernard] Melancon Announces $3.8 Million in Disaster Recovery Grants for St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes

[Westley Annis]

	WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon today announced that St.
Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes will receive $3,824,220.42 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 public facility replacement and rebuilding costs following Hurricane
Katrina.
	 
	"I am pleased the federal government is continuing to provide
assistance to the people of south Louisiana," Melancon said.  "I will
continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that the damage
and devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita is as temporary as
possible."
	 
	Rep. Melancon is an original co-sponsor of the Hurricane Katrina and
Rita Federal Match Relief Act of 2007 (H.R. 1144), legislation to help cut
the bureaucratic red tape and speed up funding assistance to areas in the
Gulf Coast.  The bill, introduced in the House last week, would waive the
local funding match required under the Stafford Act for grants from FEMA and
cancel the required repayment of Community Disaster Loans.
	 
	The following federal grants were announced today:

		. $1,254,677.40 to repair storm surge damage to
Boothville-Venice Firehouse (Plaquemines Parish).  High winds and a 16-foot
storm surge from Hurricane Katrina damaged both modules of the 9,700
square-foot Boothville-Venice Firehouse.  The engine room, offices, and
storage centers of the facility, as well as to the kitchen, meeting rooms,
and recreational areas were all damaged.  This grant will reimburse the
parish for the cost of repairing the roof panels, gypsum walls, cabinetry,
shelving, lavatory fixtures, gutters, kitchen appliances, and intercom,
lighting, electrical, alarm and heating and air systems all damaged as a
result of the surge.  The building was constructed in 1980.
		 
		. $1,585,513.62 for wind, rain, and saltwater damage to Port
Sulphur Water Treatment Plant (Plaquemines Parish).   This grant will
reimburse the Parish for damages incurred as a result of the high winds,
rain, and saltwater surge from Hurricane Katrina.  The project will include
funding for both building and equipment repair.  Four separate buildings,
all constructed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, experienced damage from
the storm.  Roofs, walls, ceilings, interior doors, exterior doors, windows,
siding, decking, lighting and electrical systems, as well as two air
conditioning units are all in need of repair. The parish will also be
reimbursed for the repair costs of water treatment equipment, including nine
pumps with motors, filtration systems, water compressors, and vacuum pumps.
Also included is funding for the improvements to electrical components, as
well as for new hurricane shutters.  The buildings co! ntained within the
facility total 4,668 square feet.
		 
		. $984,029.40 to repair flooding damage to Fazendville Waste
Water Treatment Plant (St. Bernard Parish).  A storm surge from Hurricane
Katrina caused extensive flood damage to the Fazendville Waste Water
Treatment Plant, which consists of an operations building and a shed
totaling 2,700 square feet.  The facility has been operating since the
1960s.  Following Hurricane Katrina, water reached depths of four to five
feet and remained in the building for several days, causing damage to the
wall panels and doors within.  This grant will reimburse St. Bernard Parish
for the cost of replacing the damaged walls and doors, as well as the
generator, water heater, heating and air conditioning units, all mechanical
and electrical components of the building, and other equipment.  

	"The people of St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes will not be
forgotten," Melancon said.  "I am doing everything in my power to ensure
that the Parishes receive enough funding to repair and rebuild the public
infrastructure of their communities.  This grant will aid in that, and I
will keep working in Washington to make sure St. Bernard and Plaquemines are
able to fully recover from Katrina's devastation."
	 
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