[StBernard] FEMA Funds the Restoration of St. Bernard's Historic Courthouse

[Westley Annis]

Am I reading this correctly in that it will be used for an educational
facility?  With all the new schools in the parish and Gauthier being in the
back yard, new and massively built, is there a need for another school?  Or,
what about this?...what I am hoping for is an educational facility "museum"
for Katrina.  We could honor those lives lost but use the facility to
actually teach the children about the restoration efforts, particularly in
coastal restoration.
Who owns this property?  Is it the local, state or federal authorities or
the school system?  Just wondering.  BTW, it looks fantastic!



-----Original Message-----
FEMA Funds the Restoration of St. Bernard's Historic Courthouse POSTED BY
ALEX FERRERAS ON APRIL 17, 2012 IN LATEST FINANCIAL NEWS

 
(Source: FEMA) - As repairs to St. Bernard Parish's early 20th century
courthouse near completion, the Federal Emergency Management Agency
announced today $638,677 in additional funding for the Katrina-related
restoration work.

This new funding brings the agency's total monetary support to more than
$7.5 million for the noteworthy project.

The historic courthouse, known as "St. Bernard's Old Courthouse," dates back
to 1915 and served as the parish's first courthouse until 1939. More
recently, prior to Hurricane Katrina, St. Bernard Parish leased the
courthouse facility to the local public school board for use as Beauregard
Middle School. For this reason, the facility is also commonly referred to as
the "Old Beauregard Middle School."

Located on Bayou Road and Beauregard Lane in St. Bernard, the courthouse was
flooded by an estimated 8 feet of water during Katrina, causing extensive
damages to the historic facility. Nearly seven years later, it is now
returning to the community after undergoing successful recovery measures.

"This landmark project, involving one of the parish's most important
historic buildings, is the result of the successful collaboration between
the parish government, the state and FEMA's public assistance and historic
preservation groups," said FEMA's Louisiana Recovery Office Deputy Director
of Programs Andre Cadogan.
"In the end, the courthouse's original and historic features will be
repaired while returning the building's functional, pre-Katrina use as an
educational facility."

"Since taking office on January 10, 2012, we have witnessed the exceptional,
cooperative relationship fostered between FEMA and St. Bernard Parish. The
Old Historic Courthouse is a perfect example of this relationship," said St.
Bernard Parish President David Peralta. "As this refurbished courthouse
nears substantial completion, I would like to thank our local FEMA team for
an outstanding job regarding their efforts to preserve this historic
landmark, which allows the beautiful Old Beauregard Courthouse to return to
its days of glory. This is FEMA at its finest."

As with all federally funded recovery projects, FEMA ensures that efforts
comply with federal environmental and historic preservation laws and
Executive Orders.


"FEMA's recovery grants not only enable new life for damaged facilities, but
when applicable, also preserve history-as is the case with this project,"
said Cadogan.

FEMA-funded work on the storm-damaged courthouse's historical features
includes the masonry walls; ornamental-stamped, copper cornice; and
refurbishment of its original wood windows, wood floors and interior
plasterwork.

To date, including this recent grant, FEMA has provided approximately $1.7
billion in public assistance funding for recovery work related to hurricanes
Katrina and Rita throughout St. Bernard Parish.

When FEMA approves projects through its supplemental Public Assistance
grant, the funds are made available to the Governor's Office of Homeland
Security & Emergency Preparedness, who disburses them to the applicant for
eligible work completed.

The 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. In order for the process to be successful, federal, state and
local partners coordinate to draw up project plans, fund these projects and
oversee their completion.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure
that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our
capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and
mitigate all hazards.