[StBernard] from Citybusiness

[Westley Annis]

WASHINGTON - Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, said St. Bernard
Parish will receive $104 million in federal disaster aid grants from the
Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

The grants will reimburse the parish for public utility replacement,
housing demolition, debris removal and rebuilding and repair costs
associated with Hurricane Katrina. 

"The projects that these grants will fund represent the wide array of
post-storm recovery needs in St. Bernard Parish due to hurricanes
Katrina and Rita," Melancon said. "Whether it's replacing a high school
gym, tearing down severely damaged houses or repairing a damaged public
utility system, these projects will all improve the quality of life for
residents of St. Bernard and help the community return to normal." 

Federal grants for St. Bernard Parish include: 

- $5.3 million to extend temporary pump-out and sewage hauling while
sewage system is being repaired. Katrina caused a storm surge in the
Intercoastal Waterway, breaching the levee and resulting in up to 25
feet of flooding in the parish. The parish's sewage collection system
was fully submerged, and 90 of 92 lift stations were damaged and out of
operation. The grant will fund an extension for the temporary removal of
raw sewage from lift stations until the system is repaired. The program,
originally slated to end Jan. 1, 2007, will now run through June 30. 

- $67.8 million for demolition and debris removal of 5,399 severely
damaged homes. A storm surge and flooding from Katrina caused extensive
damage throughout St. Bernard Parish. About 12,000 of the 27,000 homes
within the parish were determined to be damaged beyond repair. Because
the damaged homes represented a threat to public safety, they were
slated for demolition by the parish. The grant will reimburse the parish
for the cost of demolition and debris removal for 5,399 homes in the
parish that were damaged beyond repair. the grant will also be used for
utility disconnections, disposal of hazardous materials, including Freon
and asbestos, hauling, reduction and site management. Demolitions
covered by the grant have occurred or will occur between Jan. 1, 2007,
and Aug. 31 and will create an estimated 1.5 million cubic yards of
debris. 

- $8.4 million for monitoring the demolition and debris removal of an
additional 5,590 homes damaged beyond repair. The grant will reimburse
the parish for monitoring the demolition and debris removal for an
additional 5,590 damaged homes beginning Jan. 1, 2007, and ending Aug.
31. Work includes asbestos inspections, reporting and testing services
that have been or will be performed by contractors. 

- $9.2 million to reimburse the parish for monitoring the demolition
and debris removal of 4,105 homes damaged beyond repair. Demolitions
were conducted from Oct. 1, 2005, to Dec. 31, 2006, and resulted in 1.1
million cubic yards of construction and demolition debris. 

- $5.6 million for repairing Trist Middle School. High winds and storm
surge from Katrina caused extensive damage to the school's two-story
main building and one-story classroom addition, resulting in a total of
76,886 square feet of damage. The grant will reimburse the school board
for repairing the school's damaged roof, ceilings, flooring, windows,
walls, doors, classroom fixtures, wooden stage, wooden bleachers,
counters, shelving, cabinetry, aluminum canopies, bathroom fixtures and
plumbing, electrical, mechanical, communications, fire alarm and
security systems. 

- $7.5 million for repairing internal damage to Andrew Jackson High
School. Winds and floodwaters from Katrina damaged the campus of Andrew
Jackson High School. The grant will reimburse the parish's school board
for the cost of repairs to the 97,000-square-foot main facility and the
33,000-square-foot gymnasium. The facilities suffered damage to roofing,
doors, windows, walls, flooring, ceilings and electrical, mechanical,
and heating and air conditioning systems. Also damaged in the main
building were classrooms, band and choir rooms, the kitchen, cafeteria,
library and offices. Damaged within the gymnasium were a stage, gym area
and locker rooms. The grant also includes three cost-effective hazard
mitigation projects: Elevating the air conditioner chillers above flood
level, replacing damaged drywall with water- and mold-resistant concrete
masonry units and providing for wind-resistant aluminum curtains to
protect the building's windows.