"FEMA is happy to have
been instrumental in
bringing this swimming
pool back to Plaquemines
Parish residents this
summer. The refurbished
swimming pool is a sure
sign that we are
dedicated to rebuilding
this community," said
Jim Stark, acting
associate deputy
administrator for FEMA’s
Gulf Coast Recovery
Office.
Repairs to the pool
included those to the
plaster and tiles, as
well as debris removal.
The pool house -
including bathrooms,
showers and lockers -
and water pumps were
replaced. The pumps that
were damaged are no
longer manufactured. The
replacement pumps are
newer technology and
provide filtration and
chlorination functions
automatically as opposed
to manually. Diving
boards, lifeguard stands
and fencing also were
replaced.
"Returning this public
recreational facility to
Plaquemines Parish not
only provides families
with somewhere to cool
down in one of the
hottest months of the
summer but also gives
this community a place
to gather and form
relationships," said
Louisiana Recovery
Authority Executive
Director Paul Rainwater.
"I am thrilled the state
could speed the
necessary funds to help
Plaquemines Parish
return this
family-friendly
infrastructure to their
community in time to
celebrate Independence
Day."
In addition to the large
public pool, there is a
small pool for children
at the Davant Community
Center. Destroyed by the
storm, the Center is
also being replaced with
FEMA funds and will
include exercise
facilities, a
playground, outdoor
basketball court and
community meeting rooms.
The parish anticipates
to open the complex by
July 2009.
"This shows we’re
bringing everybody back
to Plaquemines Parish,
and we’re moving forward
to making it better than
pre-Katrina," Recreation
Department
Superintendent Corey
Buie said. "I commend
FEMA for how fast they
got the pool up."
FEMA has obligated
approximately $869,000
to repair the Davant
Community Center
swimming pool and the
pool house.
When project funds are
obligated by FEMA
through its supplemental
Public Assistance grant,
the funds are
transferred to a federal
Smartlink account. Once
the funds have reached
this account the
applicant can request
reimbursement from
GOHSEP for eligible work
completed. Obligated
funds may change over
time as the project
worksheet is a living
grant that is often
adjusted as bids come in
and scope of work is
aligned.
During his first day in
office, Governor Bobby
Jindal issued an
Executive Order
directing the Louisiana
Recovery Authority (LRA)
to be responsible for
the state’s actions with
regard to FEMA’s Public
Assistance program. The
LRA is working in
conjunction with GOHSEP
and its federal partners
to identify ways to
streamline the Public
Assistance process and
improve efficiency, with
the ultimate goal of
cutting in half the
length of time that
applications spend in
the process.
The Public Assistance
program works with state
and local officials to
fund recovery measures
and the rebuilding of
government and certain
private nonprofit
organizations’
buildings, as well as
roads, bridges and water
and sewer plants. In
order for the process to
be successful, federal,
state and local partners
coordinate to draw up
project plans, fund
these projects and
oversee their
completion.
Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita devastated South
Louisiana, claiming
1,464 lives, destroying
more than 200,000 homes
and 18,000 businesses.
The LRA is the planning
and coordinating body
that was created in the
aftermath of these
storms to lead one of
the most extensive
rebuilding efforts in
the world. The LRA is a
33-member body which is
coordinating across
jurisdictions,
supporting community
recovery and resurgence,
ensuring integrity and
effectiveness, and
planning for the
recovery and rebuilding
of Louisiana.
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.
Editors: For more
information on Louisiana
disaster recovery, visit
