FEMA said it has spent nearly $20 billion on recovery efforts for hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
WASHINGTON -- The tally is in: The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Thursday it provided $19.6 billion to Louisiana to rebuild and protect property against future storms in the eight years since hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck Louisiana.
"In the last eight years, we have funded one of the most significant comebacks in the history of natural disasters," said FEMA's Louisiana Recovery Office Executive Director Mike Womack.
Since Hurricane Isaac struck, one year ago Thursday, the federal government, not just FEMA, provided Louisiana with $262.1 million for over 1,000 projects, and another $138.4 million in individual assistance, including emergency housing, replacement food and appliances, according to the office of Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La.
Landrieu said that Aug. 29 remains a somber day in Louisiana's history.
"Many remember when Hurricane Katrina roared ashore and the federal levee system failed, killing 1,800 people," Landrieu said. "And last year, in an unfortunate and cruel twist of irony, Hurricane Isaac cut a swath of destruction in Louisiana and killed nine people just seven years after Hurricane Katrina. During and after these storms, we have learned that our country still has a long way to go to better prepare, respond and recover from disasters."
Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans, also commented on the anniversary.
"As we reflect on the eighth anniversary of the most catastrophic storm in U.S. History, I am inspired by the lessons that have emerged from the families, businesses and communities along the Gulf Coast," Richmond said. "Every school, road and home that is rebuilt and every business that returns is a testament that our rebirth has been defined not by our tragedy, but instead by our triumph."
Landrieu said that Congress has, after years of delay, enacted reforms for disaster response shortcomings highlighted by the long delays in responding to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
Among the reforms, many of which were enacted in January as part of an emergency funding bill for Hurricane Sandy, which hit coastal communities in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, are:
- Allowing states to quickly draw down a portion of hazard mitigation funding so they can leverage mitigation opportunities earlier in the reconstruction process. Those opportunities are often lost once projects are completed.
- Provides grants on the basis of reliable fixed estimates for expedited removal of storm-relayed delay and reconstruction of damaged facilities.
- Put into law temporary reforms that allowed FEMA to provide full funding for replacement projects even if they weren't built in the same location, or in the same form, as the building or facility destroyed in a hurricane.,
Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser said while some problems remain with his parish's relationship with FEMA, it has improved significantly since Hurricane Katrina.
He said that his office is near an agreement with FEMA to resolve outstanding funding disputes for Katrina-projects. It wouldn't have been possible without the cooperation of key FEMA officials, he said.
The agreement won't provide the parish or the federal government with everything they want, but will be "reasonable" and save money in the long run by getting funding released sooner rather than much later, Nungesser said.
As far as Isaac, Nungesser said one problem for his parish is that some people who got FEMA individual assistance grants for Hurricane Katrina failed to purchase flood insurance - a requirement for getting the further individual assistance they requested after Hurricane Isaac.
On Thursday, members of the Louisiana congressional delegation, including Landrieu, Sen. David Vitter, R-La., Richmond and Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge; were preparing a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers that will urge consideration of a more costly, but far more comprehensive alternative for a West Shore Lake Pontchartrain hurricane protection project for the River Parishes.
More members were expected to sign the letter later today.
"The current Tentatively Selected Plan is penny-wise but pound-foolish," Cassidy said. "For $10 million more than the estimated $881 million price tag, the Corps could protect two more Parishes. $10 million is a small fraction of what would be spent if another storm like Hurricane Isaac moves through the region and damages those properties."