BATON ROUGE, La
– Effective March 3,
2008 applicants to the
Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA)
Public Assistance
program in Louisiana
will automatically be
enrolled in the Express
Pay System, which is
designed to streamline
payments to local
governments and provide
a more rapid
disbursements of funds.
The Express Pay System
was designed to cut the
wait time for applicants
to be reimbursed from 45
to 60 days to between 10
and 14 days.
All applicants will
automatically be
enrolled in this program
and will have 45
business days
from March 3 to
sign and submit the
Express Pay
Certification letter. In
the letter, applicants
may choose to either
participate or not to
participate in the
Express Pay Program.
Applicants are reminded
that information
regarding this program
can be obtained at the
LouisianaPA.com website.
This website includes
the
Express Pay System
Applicant Toolkit,
which has complete
detailed information
regarding the program.
If an applicant has any
questions or concerns
regarding the Express
Pay Program they can
call the Express Pay
System Team at (225)
267-2553 or e-mail at
EPS@OHSEP.Louisiana.gov.
The Public Assistance
Program works with state
and local governments
and certain private
non-profit organization
to fund recovery
measures such as
rebuilding of buildings,
roads, bridges and water
and sewer plants.
Project funds are
obligated by FEMA
through the Public
Assistance Program. Once
the funds are obligated
by FEMA, the applicant
must request
reimbursement from
GOHSEP for eligible work
completed. Obligated
funds may change over
time as the project is
often adjusted as bids
come in and scope of
work is aligned.
Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita devastated South
Louisiana, claiming
1,464 lives, destroying
more than 200,000 homes
and 18,000 businesses.
The Louisiana Recovery
Authority (LRA) is the
planning and
coordinating body that
was created in the
aftermath of these
storms 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.
