[StBernard] LRA Executive Director Testifies Before Joint U.S. Homeland Security Committees on FEMA Supplies

[Westley Annis]

LRA Executive Director Testifies Before Joint U.S. Homeland Security Committees on Delivery of FEMA Supplies

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 31, 2008) -- Louisiana Recovery Authority Executive Director Paul Rainwater testified Thursday before a joint Congressional hearing regarding how FEMA delivered donated supplies to victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Thursday's hearing was a joint meeting of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery and the U.S. House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response. It examined how FEMA supplies meant for Katrina and Rita victims sat unused and were ultimately marked as surplus and distributed to other states and federal agencies.

Click here to download Rainwater's testimony as prepared. <http://lra.louisiana.gov/assets/docs/searchable/Newsroom/2008/073108RainwaterTestimony_Final.pdf>  

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 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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