Darleen Scully Gilmore
September 2, 2012September Exhibits
September 5, 2012
Rapid action is essential to rescue and recovery. A listing of response activity following Hurricane Isaac was outlined Saturday by Gov. Bobby Jindal during a Unified Command Group meeting. Statistics were current as of that meeting time.
Among the decisions secured, even as damage assessments were still being made, was for Lafourche Parish to be among the areas offered individual declarations for federal assistance. It is joined by Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. John the Baptist, Jefferson, St. Tammany, Orleans, Ascension and Livingston parishes.
“Individual assistance is certainly something we need,” Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph said on Sunday. “It had been about a week since hourly-wage people have been able to receive any money. So, they will be assisted by the emergency food stamp program as well as the individual assistance program.”
Randolph did not have a dollar amount available to report, but said Lafourche Parish Government would establish websites and avenues to let the public know about available resources. “I’m very happy we have the declaration to help people. Those that have been without electricity have the potential of having had lost some food, and we need to help them with that, too.”
Jindal also requested the federal government amend its disaster declaration and authorize individual assistance and categories C-G of public assistance for: Terrebonne, St. Mary, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, Tangipahoa, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana parishes.
On Sunday afternoon, Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet was scheduled to meet with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in Slidell, regarding damage assessment and individual federal assistance.
“There are a lot of different things that come into account (when qualifying for individual assistance),” Claudet said. “We have a (Federal Emergency Management Agency) declaration, but individual assistance is dependent upon how much damage the parish has incurred.”
Claudet said if Terrebonne Parish were not to receive individual federal assistance, it would be because the area had not been as damaged as neighboring parishes. “If we do get it this will help the citizens, and we do strive to get help for our citizens,” he said.
The Terrebonne Parish president also said that any possible denial of individual federal assistance for the area of his authority would in a way be complimentary to improvements made since hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008. The demolition of 900 derelict structures and removal of more than 200 abandoned boats from waterways during the past three years by local government agencies were noted as helping Terrebonne Parish not see as much destruction as might have been expected.
“If we had not removed those structures they would be all over the place,” Claudet said. “We also ended up where we have done a lot of work on our pump station, and between the parish government and the levee district, we spent $350 million on our levees. All that is starting to come into play.
“We are not where we need to be, but there is no question that when the eye stalled over us, it gave us a chance to get out and check pump stations and other things.”
When President Obama declared Louisiana a major disaster area on Thursday, he approved FEMA to make available financial assistance to 36 parishes impacted by Hurricane Isaac.
Obama authorized FEMA to coordinate disaster relief efforts. This includes providing emergency equipment, food, water and other resources. Federal assistance is provided for 75 percent of associated costs, with locals required to finance the remaining 25 percent. However, the federal government does have an option to waive local funding requirements.
Gov. Bobby Jindal let it be known he wants broader coverage and 100 percent support as the option.
In a letter to Obama, the Louisiana governor said, “There are currently 58 parishes that have signed declarations of emergency response to this incident, with additional parishes preparing to make emergency declarations.”
Jindal wrote to the president that Louisiana is already engaged in recovery efforts for seven open federal disaster declarations and continued to rebuild from hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike. He also made his case that Mississippi River flooding, saltwater intrusions and other coastal disasters have strained state and local emergency management and resources.
“The above factors and continuing impact and threat of Hurricane Isaac justify the declarations of an expedited major disaster for public assistance … and direct financial assistance,” Jindal’s letter said.
Sen. David Vitter agreed with the governor that 75 percent matching assistance was not enough. “Hurricane Isaac is causing major devastation for the people of Louisiana,” Vitter said in a printed statement. “(T)here is a clear and justified need for a full emergency declaration instead of limited support.”
Damage assessments were far from being complete Friday as the slow-moving storm that had reached Category 1 strength before crossing Grand Isle, continued to progress through the state, producing flash flood conditions and wind damage.
“The state of Louisiana and our coastal parishes continue to incur enormous costs combating Hurricane Isaac,” Rep. Jeff Landry said in a printed response.
The Louisiana National Guard deployed 6,704 soldiers and airmen in support of the response to Hurricane Isaac. The guard assisted in the rescue and/or evacuation of 5,227 citizens throughout the state.
As of Sunday, the guard was supporting 33 open disaster protection sites in 10 parishes. They include six in Lafourche and one in Terrebonne.
As of Sunday, state agencies had spent approximately $76 million, and parishes spent more than $10 million in response to Hurricane Isaac.
A tin-roofed house in Cut Off has its roof partially blown apart by Isaac. While the area escaped widespread damage, some homes were harmed by the Category 1 storm.
