[StBernard] St. Bernard Parish opens two of its first BRAND NEW fire stations

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Parish opens two of its first BRAND NEW fire stations

Top local, state and federal officials celebrate growth and recovery

 

St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro Jr., Parish Council members
and top officials from the state and federal government celebrated Recovery
and Growth in St. Bernard Parish with Grand Opening ceremonies for the first
two BRAND NEW fire stations built since Hurricane Katrina.

 

Officials gathered for the ribbon cutting and grand opening of Fire Station
No. 2 on Friday, Dec. 11 at  7639 W. Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette, and the
grand opening for Fire Station No. 7, which was held immediately afterwards
at 5680 E. Judge Perez Drive in Violet. Tony Russell, the Acting Deputy
Director for the Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office for FEMA, attended
both, and Paul Rainwater, the Executive Director for the Louisiana Recovery
Authority, attended the Arabi grand opening. 

 

Taffaro thanked all the partners who played a role in completing the fire
stations, including FEMA, the state's Governor's Office of Homeland Security
and Emergency Preparedness, Fire Chief Thomas Stone, all the council members
and all the contractors involved in the design and construction. He thanked
the congressional delegation for their critical support, including Sen. Mary
Landrieu, Sen. David Vitter, Congressman Charlie Melancon and Congresswoman
Eleanor Norton who has been an advocate for St. Bernard as well.

 

"These are buildings we can be proud of for years to come," Taffaro said. 

"Let's recognize those firefighters who have stayed and remained with the
department since the event four years ago. Let's recognize their
dedication."

 

Tony Russell of FEMA promised his local staff would do everything to speed
the projects along. 

 

"These folks are dedicated to one thing - making the recovery go quicker. We
are partners with you step by step," Russell said.

 

Paul Rainwater of the LRA said he always touts the resilient and dedicated
spirit of St. Bernard when he meets with federal officials.

 

"I am so proud to be associated with you," Rainwater said. "I testify before
Congress in Washington DC often. I always tell them about St. Bernard and
your spirit. I tell them you are setting the pace for recovery." 

 

Surrounded by firefighters at both stations, Stone beamed as he spoke of the
birth of his two new fire stations. 

 

"These are the first two fire stations destroyed by Katrina that have been
built from the ground up in the entire region," Stone said. "It's a great
day. Tell everyone Fire Stations No. 2 and No. 7 are open and in service."
After the second grand opening speeches ended, Stone huddled with Taffaro
and Russell as they listened to the radio notification to all firefighters
that Fire Station No. 7 was in service. 

 

Stone said that Friday's celebrations mean there are now five new or
repaired stations opened and five more under construction.

 

Fire Station No. 2 cost $1,578,739 to build. Braithwaite Construction, LLC
was the contractor. Fire Station No. 7, which cost $2,396,700, was
constructed by Stallings Construction Company. 

 

The work for both stations was paid for by FEMA and parish government
insurance proceeds. In both stations, essential living quarters were
elevated to the second floor for first responders at the Arabi and Violet
stations.

 

Current Chief Administrative Officer David Dysart and St. Bernard Parish
Recovery Director Mike Dorris Jr. oversaw both projects. Stuart Consultants
and L-7 Architects were in charge of the design for both stations. Jon
Risinger is the project manager for both projects for CDM, which provides
oversight for all FEMA-funded projects. Gil Carlin of the St. Bernard Parish
Department of Public Works is the project manager and resident inspector 

for both stations. 

 

For more information about the Growth and Recovery in St. Bernard Parish,
visit our website at www.sbpg.net <http://www.sbpg.net/> .

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