LOUISIANA COMMUNITY OVERCOMES FLOOD PROBLEMS

AND ACHIEVES MITIGATION SUCCESS WITH

FIRST ELEVATION PROJECTASFPM Louisville, KY

May 2011Jeff Heaton, Senior Project Manager, ProvidenceHolly Fonseca, Grants Officer, St. Charles Parish

WHAT HAPPENED?• 2005, Katrina/Rita, 571 homes flooded, 29 SRL, 147 RL in Parish,

$13.3M in damages paid by NFIP• January 14, 2008 - New Parish President Elected • January 14, 2008 - New Grants Officer Appointed• January 14, 2008 - New Planning & Zoning Director Appointed• January 14, 2008 - 9 of 9 Parish Council Members Replaced• 2008, Gustav/Ike, 74 homes flooded, 3 SRL, 10 RL, $664K in

damages paid by NFIP• 2009, December Heavy Rains, 91 homes flooded, 9 SRL, 35 RL, $2M

in damages paid by NFIP• Currently 51 SRLs and 624 RLs in Parish

WHAT DO WE DO?

“This is a flooding problem, but it is also a bureaucracy problem”

“We have grants available for eligible communities to mitigate flooding”

SO, WHO IS ELIGIBLE?• Parish participating in NFIP• SRLs as determined by NFIP• Substantial Damage Determinations

from last flood• Respondents to Parish Invitation –

Signed Voluntary Participation Agreements

• Approved by GOHSEP & FEMA

HOW MUCH IS AVAILABLE?• 75/25 HMGP and 90/10 SRL grants available for approved

applicants

• ICC up to $30,000 available from NFIP for insured residents

• First HMGP application approved for $3.03M with global match from State; 16 homes to be elevated

• Second HMGP and First SRL applications submitted

WHAT DID THE COUNCIL SAY?

“Will local contractors be

used?”

“Will this stress out our inspection department?”

“Is this for all income levels?”

“Do we have to pay upfront and seek reimbursement?”

“What will homeowners who

do not qualify say?”

“How long will it take?”

WHAT DID HOMEOWNERS SAY?

“Can I elevate my driveway?”

“What if I am handicapped?”

“What are Duplication of

Benefits?”“What if I had no flood insurance?”

“Can I choose my own contractor?”

“Will the contractor be responsible for

repairing my sprinkler system or

any landscaping that is damaged?”

“Do I have to take the low bidder?”

“Where do I live during

construction?”

WHAT IS PROCESS & TIMELINE FOR RECEIVING GRANT?

ACTUAL TIMELINE:• August 28, 2005 – Disaster Declared (Katrina)• July 30, 2008 - Application Submitted to GOHSEP• April 2, 2009 - Application Submitted to FEMA• September 1, 2009 - FEMA Approval• September 22, 2009 -GOHSEP Approval• May 24 and June 10, 2010 - Parish Public Meetings• March 16, 2011- 1st Homeowner Project Approved NTP

[5.5 years after Disaster]• May, 2011 -1st Homeowner Project Completed• TBD -Last Homeowner Project Complete

BEFORE / AFTER PHOTOS

BEFORE / AFTER PHOTOS

BEFORE / AFTER PHOTOS

BEFORE / AFTER PHOTOS

BEFORE / AFTER COMMENTS• “It won’t work out for me”• “Government programs

are a waste of money”• “I hope we never have

another flood”• “Best thing that ever could

have happened to me”• “This program helps

taxpayers, local governments and citizens”

• “I’m ready for the next flood”