[StBernard] St. Bernard Fire Station No. 3 is demolished after FEMA agrees with parish officials that a new one is needed due to ongoing structural concerns

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Fire Station No. 3 is demolished after FEMA agrees with parish
officials that a new one is needed due to ongoing structural concerns

 

After many discussions among officials from St. Bernard Parish, FEMA and the
state Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness,
FEMA has agreed to allow Fire Station No. 3 to be demolished after repeated
structural-related problems continued to arise after the federally funded
renovation was completed in April 2009.

 

Although St. Bernard Parish officials raised concerns about structural
issues before the renovations began, FEMA originally deemed that the
building at 9240 W. Judge Perez Drive at Pakenham Drive in Chalmette, was
less than 50 percent damaged. Because FEMA ruled it was less than 50 percent
damaged by Hurricane Katrina, that federal determination forced parish
government to renovate the building rather than to demolish it and build a
new one. However, once the renovations, which cost about $400,000, were
completed in April 2009, parish officials continued their push for
demolition as more structural-related issues presented themselves.

 

"Through diligence and reassessment by FEMA, it was determined that the
parish could indeed rebuild it," Taffaro said. "Some of the improvements in
the building will be salvaged. We worked in partnership with the Parish
Council, District C Councilman George Cavignac, FEMA and GOHSEP to achieve
this." 

 

Officials expect that Fire Station No. 3 will soon operate out temporary
headquarters during the construction of a new facility, which is already
under design. The building was demolished this week.

 

###