Houma Representative Tanner Magee sent a blistering letter to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness criticizing the agency for the slow progress in setting up temporary trailers for Hurricane Ida victims who can’t live in their damaged homes. Magee said over 11-hundred trailers have been purchased…
“It’s been ridiculous that we only have 13 people hooked up at this point,” said Magee.
Magee also blames the contractor the state hired. GOHSEP said they are beefing up staff as there are many steps that need to take place to get the trailers in place. Magee said contractor APTIM is not being held accountable for timelines and producing results.
“We’re kind of like saying just do whatever you want to do here’s $9-million, get it done, and that’s not going to be acceptable,” said Magee.
In addition to not meeting adequate timelines, Magee said the contractor is not communicating whatsoever with applicants. He said there’s no excuse especially for those applicants who are in such a vulnerable state after losing their homes.
“And when you are kind of waiting, and you’re in a really bad spot, a desperate situation here, not receiving even a little bit of like ‘hey we got your application’ is just taking away hope from people,” said Magee.
The Edwards administration estimates there are nearly 13,000 households that could need sheltering assistance from Ida.
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