Jefferson Parish has Federal monies being used to raise flood potential homes. Has Orleans Parish considered this or do we have too many?
Jefferson Parish has received another $11.2 million in federal funding to renovate or elevate 69 flood-prone homes. The money, provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will continue to fund a program in which residents who experience frequent flooding can have their homes lifted two feet above base flood elevation, and in some cases partially demolished and reconstructed in the process. Roughly 1,500 homes in Jefferson Parish have taken part in the program, which began in 2008, according to parish officials. The latest round of funding includes $6.1 million to elevate 40 residential properties throughout the parish; $1.3 million to elevate 14 flood-prone residential structures in Lafitte and Barataria; and $2.6 million for 15 elevation projects that also include demolition or reconstruction. There is another $1.2 million to fund management costs incurred by the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
nola.com
Not including administrative costs, each house will average out to $145,000 in expenditures. Maggie Talley, director of the parish’s Department of Floodplain Management and Hazard Mitigation, says that each elevation will cost $90,000 to $180,000 and if reconstruction is needed the total cost will range from $150,000 to $250,000.
Other than the properties in Lafitte and Barataria, Talley said the majority of the structures are scattered throughout the parish. The money covers costs including site preparation, design, permitting, construction and inspection. Talley said the work takes between one and three years to complete. She said the number of applications the parish receives varies, but it’s typically between 200 to 300 requests per year. Those are submitted to GOHSEP, which passes them on to FEMA. “Making sure Louisiana is prepared for the next storm means taking steps to prevent future loss and damage,” U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy said in a statement. “These grants are a welcome investment in flood mitigation and help fortify homes in Jefferson Parish.”
This action helps the home owners making them safer. It helps the Parish as they have fewer homes to worry about in flooding. It might be worth thinking of this for New Orleans.
