Sen. Landrieu, Rep. Richmond Announce $19.3M in Grants for Hurricane Recovery and Preparedness
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., chair of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, and Rep. Cedric Richmond today announced $19.3 million in federal funding for hurricane recovery and disaster preparedness efforts in Louisiana. Grants will be used for repairs at Southern University of New Orleans (SUNO), the construction of housing units at Camp Minden and a Post Headquarters Building at Jackson Barracks. They will also go toward improvements to the Statewide Alert and Warning Communication System, and the elevation of residential structures. These grants are provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Programs.
"Today's grants represent another step forward for Louisiana," Sen. Landrieu said. "Continued recovery and hazard mitigation efforts make communities throughout our state stronger and better prepared in the event of another manmade or natural disaster. These grants will enhance our Doppler Radar Warning System and provide necessary flood protections to structures in Southwest Louisiana."
"Funding announced today furthers our vision for a fully restored Louisiana," said Rep. Cedric Richmond. "Repairs to our Alert and Warning Communications System, construction of military housing, and repairs at Southern University's campus in New Orleans are essential not only to Louisiana's full recovery, but in providing stability that safeguards Louisianians from the potential of other natural disasters as our community strives to rebuild."
The grants announced today include:
Public Assistance Program:
• $2.6 million to Southern University of New Orleans (SUNO) for repairs to the Multi-Purpose Classroom Building due to extensive flooding and wind damage from Hurricane Katrina. The grant will be used for mold remediation expenses, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and elevator repairs and the replacement of architectural elements. The multi-purpose building houses offices, classrooms, conference rooms and a 1,000-seat auditorium.
• $2.9 million for the construction of 10 new military housing units at Camp Minden, in lieu of in-kind restoration of 11 buildings at Jackson Barracks. Located in northern Louisiana, Camp Minden is a military training site operated and maintained by the Louisiana Military Department. Each unit will contain three bedrooms each.
• $9.5 million for the construction of a Post Headquarters Building (Post HQ) at Jackson Barracks, which was significantly damaged from Hurricane Katrina. The Post HQ will be a 45,458 square foot, two-story building with a steel frame, covered in exterior brick veneer with open galleries. It will house the Post Commander's offices, the Military Police and other La. Military Department personnel. The new facility will continue overall pre-disaster functions.
Hazard Mitigation Program:
• $3.1 million to the Statewide Alert and Warning Communication System, intended to warn residents and officials of impending hazard events. The project scope is divided into three parts:
- Part A will add new connectors to existing FM equipment and fund the assessment, purchase, installation and testing of satellite receiver disks, digital encoders and towers to transmit the FM signals.
- Part B will improve the Doppler Radar Enhancement Warning System and add an emergency back-up power generator on the campus of University of Louisiana at Monroe, the center of an area with poor radar coverage.
- Part C will help fund Washington Parish's purchase of an additional 26 wall unit receivers and 502 portable receivers for use with the Alert FM project to allow the Parish to have critical alert warning capability during severe events.
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