NEW ORLEANS – The heavy rains and flooding associated with Hurricane Katrina caused debris and silt to be deposited in Kenner’s storm drain catch basins. The city has spent several million to remove this material. FEMA has stepped up to pick up the tab for costs relating to removing debris from the affected basins.

Kenner completed the cleaning of the 6,827 basins in June 2006. The basins are part of a drainage system that prevents water from flooding roads. When debris clogs a basin, rainwater cannot drain properly from rights-of-way. A total of 1,195 cubic yards of debris and silt were removed from the basins. FEMA will pay Kenner for the work it had done to remove the debris.

“We are pleased that FEMA has obligated the money to reimburse the city for dollars spent out of our general fund in 2005-06,” Kenner Mayor Ed Muniz said. “With an annual city budget of $60 million, this reimbursement is very important to Kenner.  I look forward to a quick final approval by the state so the money can be on its way to us.”

FEMA has obligated more than $2.9 million to reimburse Kenner for costs related to the cleaning of the storm drain catch basins. To date, FEMA has obligated a total of $37.2 million for public assistance projects in Kenner.                                                                                                           

When projects are obligated by FEMA through its supplemental Public Assistance grant, the funds are transferred to a Smartlink account. This allows the applicant, in this case the city of Kenner, to work with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness as quickly as possible to access the reimbursement monies. The state may require additional documentation from the applicant before disbursing the funds. 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.

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 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.