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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management Newsletter Website |
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November
2006
Volume 11 -
Number 2 |
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Report on hazard mitigation funding being made available
to Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama following Hurricane Katrina.
By Clinton Mexted-Freeman As the devastation following Hurricane Katrina unfolded, it became evident that considerable resources would need to be allocated in preventing such a disaster from reoccurring by investing in hazard mitigation. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides funds for mitigation projects via its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to eligible organizations, including: state and local governments, Indian tribes, and selected private non-profit entities. In 2005, $233 million was budgeted for mitigation planning and management and for the dissemination of mitigation information. Allocation of these funds is competitive, with a 3:1 cost share basis between the Federal and non-Federal parties. However, for impoverished communities the Federal Government may fund up to 90 percent. After Hurricane Katrina, a substantial increase in mitigation funding was made available and is described below for those states most affected. All of Louisiana’s parishes were able to apply for HMGP grants, with $250 million provided in November 2005 targeting three areas: severe repetitive loss of structures, substantially damaged structures and mitigation planning. All projects must provide a long-term solution, as opposed to short-term measures such as purchasing sandbags and water pumps. By August 2006, FEMA had provided Louisiana with an estimated $1.57 billion in mitigation grant funding. In addition, the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grants can also be used for hazard mitigation, and Louisiana had received $4.2 billion by March 2006 with Governor Blanco requesting a total of $12.1 billion in housing and mitigation funding from HUD. This is funding the Road Home program, and requires homeowners to comply with new statewide building codes and FEMA flood map elevation levels. Mississippi has received $429 million in mitigation funding from FEMA. These funds will be used for elevating homes, wind retrofitting of facilities, property acquisition, mitigation planning and safe room installation. In addition, $15 million will fund an assessment of hazards and outreach education utilizing flood maps, plus enable a study into the wind, water and environmental impacts following another Katrina. The FEMA-developed flood-maps have been adopted by eight local authorities in establishing elevation standards prior to rebuilding. One year following Katrina, FEMA had assisted Alabama to the tune of $970 million, with almost $71 million dedicated to hazard mitigation projects. Three projects underway include: Brookside Town received $1.3 million to acquire and demolish 26 houses located on a floodplain, and then designate the area open space; The Gulf Shores Utilities Board will spend its $1.2 million to replace clay sewage pipes with polyethylene pipes to better withstand storm surges; and Franklin County Water Service Authority will connect 13,150 households to a regional water system. A study initiated by Congress revealed that mitigation efforts save society an average of four dollars for every dollar expended. A proposed national floodplain management plan is expected to save an estimated $1.1 billion per year by reducing flood damage. References: Blanco, Kathleen, “Levees and homes top priorities on Governor Blanco’s recovery agenda”, 7 March 2006, http://www.gov.state.la.us/index.cfm?md=newsroom&tmp=detail&catID=4&articleID=1708 DHS, “Hurricane Katrina: What the Government is doing”, 29 August 2006, http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/katrina.htm FEMA, “Pre-disaster mitigation means savings on disaster expenditures”, 30 December 2005, http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=21999 FEMA, “FEMA and state schedule briefings for local officials on hazard mitigation grant program”, 14 November 2005, http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=20550 FEMA, “One year after Katrina, recovery in Alabama continues: FEMA aid at $970 million”, 24 August 2006, http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=29185 FEMA, “FEMA awards $3.7 million to Alabama for disaster mitigation”, 23 December 2005, http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=21822 FEMA, “Mitigation is the best offense”, 17 August 2006, http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=29002 Fema.gov TCPalm.com |