[StBernard] FEMA Finally Agrees to Resolve Flood Zone Issue

[Westley Annis]

Dear  Friend,


	

This  week I received a written commitment from FEMA to work toward a
reasonable  resolution on the high-risk flood zone issue that has hampered
our hurricane  recovery in many coastal communities.

	

It took my blocking the approval of President  Obama's nominee to be the new
FEMA administrator to finally get this response,  but a one-week delay on
this nomination was minimal compared to how long folks  in Louisiana have
often had to wait on FEMA.  

	

Almost four years have  passed since hurricanes Rita and Katrina, and south
Louisiana communities like  Cameron, Lafourche and Plaquemines parish are
still waiting on answers from  FEMA regarding how rebuilding can occur in
high-risk  flood zones. These answers are necessary for fire stations and
other  critical infrastructure and municipal buildings to be rebuilt so that
we can  provide the basic municipal services that every community needs. 

	

I've been pressing for these answers for months, since  well before the
president even nominated a new FEMA administrator. After months of
non-response, I set up a conference call with the acting administrator on
Feb.  26, during which she said she understood the urgent nature of the
matter and  expected a positive resolution very soon.   But  we waited more
than 70 days with no answers. 

	

So after months of waiting, I decided to apply  pressure to FEMA in a way
that I knew would get their attention - slowing down  the confirmation of
their new administrator. 

	

 Last  week I sent the acting Administrator a  letter of good faith stating
that I would lift my hold on the nominee if FEMA  would agree in writing to
my requests, and FEMA has agreed to help our coastal communities  resolve
this high-risk flooding issue.

	

We had enough problems with FEMA during the last  administration. We don't
need the same old FEMA under this new  administration. I'm very confident
based on their written commitment that the V-Zone  issue will be solved soon
so that crucial infrastructure and facilities can be  rebuilt.  And I look
forward to working with the new FEMA administrator on  that and much more.


Sincerely,
David Vitter
U.S.  Senator