FEMA says over half of obligated funds used
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NEW ORLEANS — From storm-battered schools and libraries in New Orleans to flooded-out fire stations in rural Plaquemines Parish, more than $7.1 billion in aid has been “obligated” to help state and local governments rebuild since hurricanes Katrina and Rita hammered Louisiana in 2005, new figures show.
“Obligated” means the money has gone through the FEMA system and it is there in the state’s account and available to (governments) to draw down,” spokesman Andrew F. Thomas said Thursday.
Of the $7.1 billion obligated to Louisiana projects, in excess of $3.6 billion — more than 50 percent — has been paid out through Sept. 25, according to statistics released Thursday by the Federal Emergency Management Administration.
The $7.1 billion is divided roughly in two parts: “emergency work” — such as storm debris clean-up — and “permanent works” — brick and mortar projects like rebuilding water lines and other infrastructure, Thomas said.
Of the $7.1 billion, FEMA has obligated the lion’s share — $5 billion — to 11 parishes hardest hit by Katrina and Rita. Those parishes have used a total of $2.33 billion of that amount, the FEMA figures show. The remaining $2.25 billion has been obligated to other parish government and state agencies, such as State Police and the Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development.
Of the 11 “high-priority” parishes: the largest amount — $2.27 billion — was obligated to Orleans Parish, including the City of New Orleans, the Recovery School District, the Louis Armstrong International Airport, the New Orleans Morial Convention Center and storm-shuttered Charity Hospital.
Altogether, those entities have been reimbursed for $894 million of the $2.2 billion amount.
St. Bernard Parish recorded the second-highest amount of FEMA obligations, $1.15 billion, from which the parish has drawn $607 million.
Plaquemines Parish was third, with $500 million obligated and $130 million. “FEMA has a lot of great people working for them and they have some people that just don’t care,” said Plaquemines Parish President Bill Nungesser. “As long as they weed out the people that just don’t care, they’ll get the job done.”
On Thursday, Nungesser described the parish’s relations with the much-maligned federal agency as — “great.”
FEMA spokesman Thomas says hurricanes Gustav and Ike have added to the federal emergency agency’s workload. “But obviously, we haven’t lost our focus on Katrina and the work will continue.”
FEMA obligations for the remaining eight high-priority parishes follow: Calcasieu, $88 million; Cameron, $123 million; Iberia, $14 million; Jefferson $347 million; St. Tammany, $398 million; Vermilion, $42 million and Washington, $104 million.
“Obligated” means the money has gone through the FEMA system and it is there in the state’s account and available to (governments) to draw down,” spokesman Andrew F. Thomas said Thursday.
Of the $7.1 billion obligated to Louisiana projects, in excess of $3.6 billion — more than 50 percent — has been paid out through Sept. 25, according to statistics released Thursday by the Federal Emergency Management Administration.
The $7.1 billion is divided roughly in two parts: “emergency work” — such as storm debris clean-up — and “permanent works” — brick and mortar projects like rebuilding water lines and other infrastructure, Thomas said.
Of the $7.1 billion, FEMA has obligated the lion’s share — $5 billion — to 11 parishes hardest hit by Katrina and Rita. Those parishes have used a total of $2.33 billion of that amount, the FEMA figures show. The remaining $2.25 billion has been obligated to other parish government and state agencies, such as State Police and the Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development.
Of the 11 “high-priority” parishes: the largest amount — $2.27 billion — was obligated to Orleans Parish, including the City of New Orleans, the Recovery School District, the Louis Armstrong International Airport, the New Orleans Morial Convention Center and storm-shuttered Charity Hospital.
Altogether, those entities have been reimbursed for $894 million of the $2.2 billion amount.
St. Bernard Parish recorded the second-highest amount of FEMA obligations, $1.15 billion, from which the parish has drawn $607 million.
Plaquemines Parish was third, with $500 million obligated and $130 million. “FEMA has a lot of great people working for them and they have some people that just don’t care,” said Plaquemines Parish President Bill Nungesser. “As long as they weed out the people that just don’t care, they’ll get the job done.”
On Thursday, Nungesser described the parish’s relations with the much-maligned federal agency as — “great.”
FEMA spokesman Thomas says hurricanes Gustav and Ike have added to the federal emergency agency’s workload. “But obviously, we haven’t lost our focus on Katrina and the work will continue.”
FEMA obligations for the remaining eight high-priority parishes follow: Calcasieu, $88 million; Cameron, $123 million; Iberia, $14 million; Jefferson $347 million; St. Tammany, $398 million; Vermilion, $42 million and Washington, $104 million.
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