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Melancon Announces Almost $10 Million in Disaster Recovery Grants for St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes
CONTACT: Robin Winchell 202.225.4031November 13, 2006

WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon today announced that St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes will receive $9,971,289.40 in federal disaster aid grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The grants will reimburse the Parish for infrastructure recovery costs following Hurricane Katrina.

"Thanks to these grants, students at Borgnemouth Elementary will go to school in a modern, new building and families and businesses in Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes will have more reliable public utilities," said Melancon. "In the months ahead, I will be working with my colleagues in Congress to implement the disaster recovery strategies and reforms laid out in the Katrina Task Force report. Together, we will make sure that when the next natural disaster hits, we are more prepared."

(Please see the final report of the Katrina Task Force for more details.)

The following grants were announced today:

  • $4,324,341.42 for the replacement of the Borgnemouth Elementary School facility (St.ernard Parish School Board). Hurricane Katrina's high winds, intense wind-driven rain, and storm surge flooded the facility to a depth of 5.5 feet for an extended period of time. Flood waters damaged the structure, electrical system, and plumbing. The roof and windows were damaged by rain. The one story school was originally built in 1952, added to in 1968, remodeled in 1991, and has a total area of 43,046 square feet.

  • 2,652,750.00 for extension of temporary sewage pump-out in St. Bernard Parish (St. Bernard Parish). This grant will reimburse St. Bernard Parish for the cost of extending the temporary pumping-out and hauling of raw sewage from lift stations and wetwells. The extension is from October 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006. FEMA will reimburse St. Bernard Parish for the 90% federal share of the project. St. Bernard Parish’s entire sewage collection system was fully submerged by the storm surge caused by Hurricane Katrina along the Intercoastal Waterway, which flooded the Parish to depths ranging from 4-25 feet. The sewer system consists of a network of 92 lift stations, 90 of which were out of operation due to damage from the hurricane.

  • $2,994,197.98 for Plaquemines Parish Water Distribution Systems (Plaquemines Parish). Hurricane Katrina damaged the Parish’s Water Distribution facilities. For three weeks, saltwater inundated four water meters in the following locations: Belle Chase Water Distribution System District 1, Port Sulphur Water Distribution System District 2, Buras/Boothville Water Distribution System District 3 and Dalcour/East Bank Water Distribution System District 4. This grant will reimburse the Parish for removing damaged pro-read water meter services and installing new pro-read water meters and water meter service assembly parts.

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