[StBernard] LRA Progress Report - June 6, 2006

[Westley Annis]

LRA Progress Report - June 6, 2006

In this issue:

*	Ground Breaking Next Week for New Orleans Public School
*	Important Dates for Recovery Programs Near
*	Web Sites Help New Orleanians Track Recovery Progress
*	Remember Pets in Preparedness Plans


Ground Breaking Next Week for New Orleans Public School

A ground breaking is set for Tuesday for New Orleans' first new public school since before hurricane Katrina. Langston Hughes Elementary School on Trafalgar St. will be an 85,000 square foot Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade school. The $22.8 million facility will house 440 students and include academic classrooms, special education areas, a media center, a cafeteria and kitchen and a gymnasium. Langston Hughes Elementary is the first of five new schools scheduled to begin construction in 2008 in New Orleans.

*	Click here <http://www.nolapublicschools.net/>  for more about Langston Hughes Elementary and the Recovery School District.


Important Dates for Recovery Programs Near

The deadline is approaching for Road Home applicants to indicate their interest in both the Road Home Elevation Incentive and the HMGP Elevation Award. Applicants must return their forms by June 16, 2008, or they will not receive funds to raise their homes. The Road Home mailed all applicants, more than 109,000, who are potentially eligible for these awards information about the two programs. Homeowners only need to return the form for the program or programs in which they are interested in participating. 


Meanwhile, south Louisiana business owners can begin submitting applications for the second phase of the Business Recovery Grant and Loan program on Monday, June 9. $80 million dollars is available in combination grants and zero-interest loans for businesses recovering from hurricanes Katrina and Rita in this phase. 

*	Click here <http://www.lra.louisiana.gov/pr052008ElevationDeadline.html>  for more on the elevation deadline.
*	Click here <http:// www.LouisianaForward.com>  for more on the Business Recovery Grant and Loan Phase II.


Web Sites Help New Orleanians Track Recovery Progress

The city of New Orleans is providing new, interactive tools to help residents track recovery. The "Recovery Projects Information" Web site was developed to help current and displaced residents track the progress of the City's recovery projects. Visitors can search by type of facility (library, health clinic, fire department), neighborhood, street address or simply click and zoom on the map.

The city developed another tool, the Department of Public Works Web site, to give New Orleanians a tool to track the status of street and sidewalk repair projects in their neighborhoods and throughout the City. 

*	Click here <http://www.cityofno.com/recovery>  for New Orleans' Recovery Projects Information Web site.
*	Click here <http://www.cityofno.com/streets>  for New Orleans' Department of Public Works Web site.


Remember Pets in Preparedness Plans

As south Louisianians prepare for hurricane season, experts are reminding pet owners to make plans for Fifi and Fido. The National Hurricane Center advises pet owners to make sure all animals are up to date on all shots and vaccinations, especially if the pets will be going to an animal shelter.

Other useful tips:

*	Include a current photograph of the pet with your hurricane supplies.
*	Make sure pets wear collars with ID tags and have a leash on hand. 
*	Use a properly-sized pet carrier for each animal - carriers should be large enough for the animal to stand and turn around. 
*	Plan your evacuation strategy: Specialized pet shelters, animal control shelters, veterinary clinics and friends and relatives out of harm's way are ALL potential refuges for your pet during a disaster.

*	Click here <http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/prepare/pet_plan.shtml>  for more on Pet Preparedness.



###