[StBernard] ST. BERNARD PARISH GOVERNMENT SURPASSES THE $1 BILLION MARK IN RECOVERY DOLLARS OBLIGATED BY FEMA

Westley Annis Westley at da-parish.com
Sat Apr 16 18:48:49 EDT 2011


ST. BERNARD PARISH GOVERNMENT SURPASSES THE $1 BILLION MARK IN RECOVERY
DOLLARS OBLIGATED BY FEMA

PARISH GOVERNMENT IS FIRST GULF COAST COMMUNITY TO REACH THE MILESTONE DUE
TO THE COOPERATION AND PROPER MANAGEMENT OF PROJECTS



St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro, Jr. announced Friday that St.
Bernard Parish Government surpassed the $1 billion mark in recovery dollars
obligated by FEMA – the first Gulf Coast community to reach the milestone
due to the cooperation and proper management of projects. According to FEMA,
no applicant in the other Gulf Coast States that includes Florida,
Mississippi, Alabama, or Texas has exceeded $1 billion since Hurricane
Katrina.



“We have achieved a milestone that no one else in the gulf region has done
within the time frame of the last 3½ years, and I am grateful to our
partners at the state and federal level especially in FEMA and GOHSEP that
have worked hand in hand with us,” President Taffaro said. “You can’t go
more than a few blocks in any direction without seeing the thumbprints of
our recovery.”



The latest achievement cements St. Bernard Parish’s position as a leader
among hurricane damaged Gulf Coast communities in managing recovery
projects. St. Bernard Parish – that flooded levee to levee leaving no
building unscathed – has nearly 500 public parish government projects
obligated by FEMA to fund to date including the process of demolition and
debris clean-up. These recovery projects can be seen in every neighborhood
throughout the parish and include the construction and renovation of public
projects, such as the Sigur Civic Center Auditorium and Grand Ballroom, 10
fire stations, 92 rehabilitated sewer lift stations, 50 plus miles of road
repairs, repairs and construction at recreational facilities, including Val
Riess, Hannan Athletic Complex, Kenilworth Park, and Violet Park No. 2.
Additionally, the construction and renovation work to the St. Bernard
Courthouse and Sheriff Annex are all projects illustrating this achievement.
Taffaro praised his administrative team of Chief Administrative Officer Dave
Dysart, Recovery Director Michael Dorris, Jr. and their staffs, the Public
Works department including the late Logan Martin, and the Parish Council for
their dedication.

“This has been a total community effort, often lead by our citizens and
business leaders,” Taffaro said. “Many of the same heroes of the disaster
response have evolved into champions of our recovery.”



Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater said, “St. Bernard Parish and
its leaders fought hard for many years to ensure that its community had all
of the federal funds necessary to rebuild and recover. The parish reached
this important milestone because of tenacious leadership that was willing to
partner with state and federal officials to work through each project
worksheet and strong management of its portfolio of rebuilding projects. I
look forward to continuing this partnership between the state and President
Taffaro as construction continues across the parish.”

FEMA's Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office Acting Director Tony Russell,
who like Rainwater has attended countless grand openings and ground
breakings of federally funded recovery projects, has always spoke well of
the partnership and the efforts of local officials.

“These folks are dedicated to one thing - making the recovery go quicker. We
are partners with you step by step," Russell said. "Everything we do is with
one thing in mind: to help this community recover,” recognizing Taffaro’s
relentless push for recovery projects.



He further acknowledged the unique momentum in St. Bernard, citing the
constant pressure from two recovery leaders like Taffaro and Doris Voitier,
who has gained national recognition for her work with the parish’s school
system recovery since Katrina.



When FEMA approves projects through its supplemental Public Assistance
grant, the funds are transferred to a federal Smartlink account. Once the
funds have reached this account, the applicant can request reimbursement
from GOHSEP for eligible work completed. Obligated funds may change over
time as the project worksheet is a living grant that is often adjusted as
bids come in and scope of work is aligned.



FEMA’s Public Assistance program works with state and local officials to
fund recovery measures and the rebuilding of government and certain private
nonprofit organizations' buildings, as well as roads, bridges and water and
sewer plants.



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