Louisiana Bridges, Roads Affected by Ike Receive $2 million from U.S. DOT

BATON ROUGE, La. (September 17, 2008) – Governor Bobby Jindal today thanked U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters for her announcement that Louisiana will receive $2 million in immediate emergency funds for roads and bridges damaged from Hurricane Ike.

“I appreciate the federal government’s recognition of the toll Ike took on our infrastructure,” Jindal said. “This $2 million will be put to very good use as we work to remove debris and re-open damaged roads and bridges. We will continue to work to get the additional resources we need to complete this work.”

In a statement issued today, Peters called the money “a down payment on our commitment to the people of this region” and announced that Louisiana would receive the money as “quick-release” funds from the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Emergency Relief Fund. The quick-release funds help Louisiana’s cash flow as the state continues its emergency response and recovery work.

Damage assessment teams from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) continue to assess hurricane affected areas. For Ike, DOTD estimates it will cost about $66 million to repair roads and bridges that receive federal highway funding and to pickup debris along those routes.

DOTD Secretary William D. Ankner said, “We thank Secretary Peters for these first funds, which will immediately go toward expenses we are incurring every day. We look forward to continuing this federal-state partnership as we address our $66 million in needs from Ike.”

FEMA Expands Public Assistance Program Assistance to 25 Parishes, at Request of Governor Jindal

BATON ROUGE – At the request of Governor Jindal, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) amended its disaster declaration for Hurricane Gustav to add all remaining categories of Public Assistance (PA) for 25 parishes.

 

The following parishes are now eligible for the FEMA Public Assistance (PA) program for categories C-G, which includes repairs to damaged public facilities: Acadia, Ascension, Assumption, Catahoula, East Baton Rouge, Grant, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, La Salle, Lafourche, Livingston, Natchitoches, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Helena, St. James, St. Landry, Tangipahoa, Vernon, Washington, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana, and Winn.

 

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is conducting Public Assistance Applicant Briefings throughout the state for applicants. The Governor requested that all 64 parishes be provided federal assistance following Hurricane Gustav, and is continuing to work with the federal government to add additional parishes to their declaration for assistance.

 

Governor Jindal Receives Confirmation on Request for Federal Fisheries Disaster Relief in Aftermath of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike

BATON ROUGE – Governor Bobby Jindal has received confirmation from U.S. Commerce Secretary M. Carlos Gutierrez that a formal fishery resource disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has been declared due to the devastation of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

 

The declaration, prompted by the Governor’s Sept. 5 letter that began the Hurricane Gustav recovery effort sets in motion provisions of the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act that authorize assistance to fishermen affected by natural disasters. This action also makes small fishing businesses eligible for certain Small Business Administration loans.

 

“Our fishing industry has sustained another set back, that may well be as formidable as the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and this action begins the early response initiatives,” said Governor Jindal. “The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will coordinate the use of recovery funds provided through this process. We know more help will be needed, but this is a necessary first step.”

 

Commercial fishing in the affected areas consists mostly of finfish, shrimp and oysters. NOAA will work with the states to further assess damage to the major fishing ports and the seafood processing facilities in Louisiana and Texas.

 

The initial affected areas under today’s declaration are Texas and Louisiana. DOC/NOAA will continue to work with the region to assess the impacts of the storm in other areas of the Gulf.

 

“The economic impacts of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike on fishing communities in the Gulf of Mexico will hurt these communities,” Gutierrez said. “We have a lot of work to do, but this disaster determination is an important step in the recovery process.”

 

The fishery resource disaster determination was made pursuant to NOAA’s Fisheries Service will work with the states to distribute any funds appropriated in response to this determination.

 

“Working with the fishing industry and NOAA Marine Fisheries, we will assess fishing industry damage and move quickly to deliver recovery funds where needed,” said Robert Barham, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries secretary.

Plans and Information for Cameron Parish School Families; Cameron Parish Schools News Update

CAMERON PARISH , La. (September 17, 2008) – Cameron Parish School Superintendent Stephanie Rodrigue today released important information about Cameron Parish schools to its students and families.

There is no need to enroll students in other schools.  Once the parish is safely accessible and families have returned, openings will be announced.  Plans are in place for alternate sites, where necessary. Students will be taught by their same teachers, graduations will be conducted on schedule, and student activities and athletics will quickly resume.  Cameron Parish School Board members are in constant communication in these efforts.

As soon as Grand Lake, Sweetlake and Big Lake is opened and families return, school openings with some alternate sites will be announced.  Each school will open as soon as plans for each school are complete, not necessarily all at the same time.

South Cameron students will not be housed at Grand Lake.  Plans for an alternate site are in progress.  Plans for Hackberry and Johnson Bayou will be announced as soon as we have a timeline from the restoration company.

Restoration needs will be assessed at Johnson Bayou and South Cameron High Schools today and tomorrow and will begin as quickly as the schools can be accessed.

Principals have been requested to communicate with coaches to adjust athletic practices and games and secure locations for alternate gyms.  Information for Grand Lake, Hackberry and Johnson Bayou basketball plans and transportation will be announced as soon as all details are complete.  There are no issues with Grand Lake’s gym. 

Grand Lake girls basketball practice is scheduled for Wednesday, 8:30 AM; Boys basketball – 10:00 AM until noon on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, all at Grand Lake High School.  No games are scheduled at this time.

Hackberry High School athletes are asked to call coaches Terry Murphy at 513-3826 and Byron Gibbs at 540-2928.

Johnson Bayou athletes are asked to call coaches Darrell Lee at 304-6289, Todd Jinks at 794-6364 or Principal Gene Reynolds at 515-4910.

South Cameron High School will play football at Kinder High School on Saturday at 4:00 PM.  Football practices are scheduled at Kinder High School on Thursday and Friday at 8:00 AM.  Bus transportation to Kinder High School will be available.
Bus pick-ups are as follows:

• 6:15 AM – Holmwood Grocery, Grand Lake Baseball Field, Salon Elegance;
• 6:25 – Chesson’s Grocery, Burton Coliseum southwest corner;
• 6:30 – St. Patrick’s Church:
• 6:35 – Fuel Stop 36;
• 6:35  – Wal-Mart, Nelson Road;
• 6:45 – VF Factory Outlet.

Athletes are asked to bring uniforms and equipment.  Cheerleaders and dance line will receive information from their sponsors.

Employees are asked to take care of their homes and handle personal issues, such as FEMA and insurance, while the schools are forced to remain closed, so that the focus will be on our students when they return.

Payroll will be handled through direct deposit on September 25, 2008.  Check stubs will be mailed.  All invoices and substitutes were paid before evacuation was called.

Architectural and engineering assessments have been completed at Grand Lake and Hackberry High Schools.  Grand Lake has only humidity issues which have been addressed since Saturday night when Jeff Davis Electric restored electricity to that portion of Grand Lake.  Hackberry had from 24 to 36 inches of water throughout the school with silt, mud and debris remaining.  A restoration firm will be in the school as soon as Hackberry can be accessed in a vehicle.  They will also be working at Johnson Bayou High School as soon as the assessment team can get in to direct them.

The architects and engineers could not access Johnson Bayou School even by boat yesterday, but hope to access by airboat today.  On-site reports include extensive water damage and some structural issues.

South Cameron High School will be assessed on Wednesday, if high water transportation is available.  On-site reports include extensive water and structural damage.

The Louisiana Public Assistance Temporary Facilities Group has a meeting scheduled with Superintendent Rodrigue and Project Manager James Hoffpauir at 10:30 Tuesday morning to expedite temporary buildings for the classrooms of Johnson Bayou and South Cameron High Schools.  In the meantime, plans are in place for short-term alternate sites.

Projected post-storm needs for schools were requested through resources of the Louisiana Department of Education, so meeting those needs should be expedited, as well.

The contractor for the new elevated South Cameron High School was at the site on Monday, preparing to bring in equipment as soon as the highway is opened.  Construction on the concession and and restrooms will continue at that time, as well.

The Cameron Parish School Board Central Office reopened on Sunday and has been made available to other parish offices, in addition to school board business.  Any public officials needing office space should call 337.905.5784, extension 114 for Angie Styron or 109 for Anna Murphy.  Central office employees will be called to work when needed and will be notified of any necessary new assignments or relocations.

Cameron Parish families and employees are encouraged to contact FEMA at www.fema.gov or by calling 1 (800) 621-3362. TTY users can dial 1 (800) 462-7585 to use the Federal Relay Service. 

Information and registration for food stamps is available through www.dss.state.la.us or by calling 1-888-524-3578.

OEP Director Clifton Hebert is arranging for individual commodities assistance in both Grand Lake and Hackberry.

Mail for Cameron and Johnson Bayou (70631), Creole (70632) and Grand Chenier (70643) is now available at Drew Station on Lake Street on Lake Charles.  Hackberry (70645) mail is at the Sulphur Post Office.

For more information, Cameron Parish School Board families and employees are asked to check the website at www.camsch.org and listen to My State alert messages.  Videography and photography of Cameron Parish are continually being added to the website.  Families are advised that the aerial shots appear far more promising than what is the reality on the ground for most of the homes, schools and buildings in Cameron Parish.