Governor Edwards announces 136-million dollars in federal hazard mitigation grant money will go to southwest Louisiana parishes impacted by Hurricanes Laura and Delta. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell says the money can go towards projects to reduce flood risk and help structures withstand hurricane-force winds.
“One of my key priorities coming into this administration is that investment into reducing risk, reducing the impacts we are seeing as a result of climate change,” said Criswell.
Funding requires a 25-percent match from the local government that uses this grant money. Edwards remains hopeful Congress will pass a hurricane disaster recovery bill that could help provide the funding for the 25-percent match.
“There’s precedent for that, in fact after the 2016 floods that’s exactly what we did so we are working on that now,” said Edwards.
Edwards is glad the state is receiving this hazard mitigation funding, but Hurricanes Laura and Delta left behind three billion dollars in unmet needs. The governor is hopeful the federal government can provide at least half of that total in a hurricane recovery aid package.
“As of yet, they haven’t announced an appropriation of that type but I’m hopeful, optimistic, I believe we are going to see something really soon to at least get us started,” said Edwards.
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