NEW ORLEANS — The Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA), the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently approved Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding to rebuild 29 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) severe repetitive loss structures in Jefferson Parish.

“By rebuilding these homes according to new building codes and up to the latest elevation guidelines, these projects serve as yet another example of how Louisiana is turning tragedy into opportunity,” said LRA Board Member Tim Coulon.  “House by house, neighborhood by neighborhood, parish by parish, we are rebuilding safer and stronger.”  

The $5,348,656 in funding will go toward rebuilding 29 residential properties in Jefferson Parish in compliance with the latest building codes and to elevate one foot above Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE). The project will reduce future flood damages, health and safety risks, clean-up costs and displacement time for the homeowners. These measures will also bring cost savings to the NFIP through reduced flood insurance claims.

Alternative mitigation actions were considered, but reconstruction was determined to be the most cost effective and beneficial action.

“The Pilot Reconstruction Program has broadened the scope of the traditional Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding opportunities. It enables communities to incorporate mitigation directly into the reconstruction process,” said Jim Stark, FEMA’s director of the Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office. “FEMA will continue working closely with Jefferson Parish and the state of Louisiana to ensure sound mitigation opportunities are fully exercised in the rebuilding process.”

The homes that are funded for reconstruction through this project are on the NFIP’s severe repetitive loss list of residential structures with excessive flood loss. As defined by the NFIP, severe repetitive loss homes have suffered damages of $1,000 or more on at least four occasions or suffered damages of more than 50 percent of their value on two or more occasions.  About 1,700 homes, or about one-third of the severely and repetitively damaged homes in America, are in Louisiana.

“It's very gratifying to see the outcome of the GOHSEP Mitigation staff's hard work, in conjunction with the FEMA Mitigation staff, result in the awarding of these funds to assist homeowners in the rebuilding of their homes,” said Casey Levy, State Hazard Mitigation officer. “As part of the reconstruction process, these homes will be elevated to the Advisory Base Flood Elevation, thereby significantly reducing the possibility of future flooding.”

The Jefferson Parish municipalities covered in this application ranked No.1 in the state for flood risk and No. 2 for storm surge and levee failure in the context of relative risk as summarized by the state of Louisiana’s hazard mitigation plan.

Although 100 percent of the parish’s land area is within a 100-year floodplain, some areas of the parish receive more flooding due to storm surge. Elevating these structures will result in incremental improvement in flood resistant housing and significantly reduce the potential for these structures to sustain flood damage, especially repetitive flood damage.

One of the state’s top priorities is mitigation planning. In November 2005, the LRA authorized the use of $250 million in HMGP funds to help parishes prevent damage from future disasters. In accordance with the State Hazard Mitigation Program, the LRA directed GOHSEP to assign the first hazard mitigation funding available after hurricanes Katrina and Rita to parish governments. To access hazard mitigation funds through the state HMGP program, parishes submit proposals to GOHSEP. GOHSEP then completes a state review and forwards selected applications to FEMA. The funds, which are provided under the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, require a 25 percent match from parish governments or state agencies.

Approved by GOHSEP and FEMA, hazard mitigation projects enable communities to take actions to reduce or eliminate long-term risks to people and property from natural hazards and their effects. Projects eligible for HMGP funds include structure elevation, wind retrofitting of facilities, property acquisition, planning, mitigated reconstruction and safe room installation. Projects must fit within the state's and local governments' overall mitigation strategy and comply with HMGP guidelines.  

When projects are obligated by FEMA through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, the funds are transferred to a Smartlink account. This allows the grantee, the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, to draw down the funds as quickly as possible. The state may require additional information from the subgrantee before disbursing the funds.

In addition to this HMGP program, more than $1 billion in hazard mitigation funds is also being made available to homeowners who have applied to the Road Home program.  The state's application to distribute HMGP funds through the Office of Community Development (OCD) was recently approved.  In the coming weeks, homeowners will be contacted by OCD with information regarding the next step.

A congressionally mandated study conducted for FEMA revealed that mitigation saves society an average of $4 for every dollar spent. Such defensive, preventative mitigation measures learned and implemented by Louisianians will contribute to a national floodplain management plan that saves taxpayers an estimated $1.1 billion per year by preventing flood damages.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated South Louisiana, claiming 1,464 lives, destroying more than 200,000 homes and 18,000 businesses. The LRA is the planning and coordinating body that was created in the aftermath of these storms by Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco to lead one of the most extensive rebuilding efforts in the world. The LRA is a 33-member body which is coordinating across jurisdictions, supporting community recovery and resurgence, ensuring integrity and effectiveness and planning for the recovery and rebuilding of Louisiana.

GOHSEP will ensure that the state is prepared to respond to, and recover from, all natural and man-made emergencies. This office will provide the leadership and support to reduce the loss of life and property through an all-hazards emergency management program of prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.