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July 18, 2007
LA-1603-07-07-662
Media Contact:
504-762-2477
NEW ORLEANS —
A recently approved
grant from the
Federal Emergency
Management Agency
(FEMA) will help the
state of Louisiana
and the Audubon
Commission develop a
hazard mitigation
plan that will
ensure the
facilities in New
Orleans are better
protected against
future storms,
hurricanes or other
potential disasters.
The plan will
consider effects of
hurricanes Katrina
and Rita, as well as
risks associated
with dam or levee
failure.
Funding from this
$49,155 Hazard
Mitigation grant is
earmarked to develop
a hazard mitigation
plan compliant with
the Disaster
Mitigation Act of
2000 (DMA 2000).
DMA, which was
established by
Congress, emphasizes
the need for states
and communities to
prepare for possible
disasters by
developing hazard
mitigation plans for
existing and future
buildings.
"Audubon is
grateful for this
grant and believes
it will help us to
better protect our
staff, animals and
facilities in the
future," said Dale
Stastny, chief
operating officer at
Audubon Nature
Institute.
The Audubon
Commission operates
11 facilities within
New Orleans
dedicated to the
wonders of nature.
Three of the
facilities, the
Audubon Zoo, Audubon
Aquarium of the
Americas and Entergy
IMAX Theatre, draw
over two million
visitors to New
Orleans each year.
With more than 500
full- and part-time
workers, the
facilities continue
to provide a
relaxing and
educational setting
for local families
and regional and
national visitors.
The Hazard
Mitigation Grant
Program provides
grants to States and
local governments to
implement long-term
hazard mitigation
measures after a
major disaster
declaration, to
reduce the loss of
life and property
due to natural
disasters and to
enable mitigation
measures to be
implemented during
the immediate
recovery from a
disaster.
FEMA coordinates the
federal government’s
role in preparing
for, preventing,
mitigating the
effects of,
responding to, and
recovering from all
domestic disasters,
whether natural or
man-made, including
acts of terror.
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