WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) announced today that FEMA is awarding an additional $50,644,122.05million in federal grants for hurricane recovery efforts in Southwest Louisiana.
The funding is made available through the major disaster declaration for Hurricane Laura (DR-4559-LA), which Congressman Higgins supported.
The reimbursement includes:
- $1,911,839.63 to the Calcasieu Parish School Board for repairs to the TS Cooley Elementary School. The reimbursement is made at 90% federal cost-share and authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act.
- $2,867,231.22 to the Calcasieu Parish School Board for repairs to the R.W. Vincent Elementary School. The reimbursement is made at 90% federal cost-share and authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act.
- $22,234,358.70 to the Jefferson Davis Electric Co-Op Inc for 69kV transmission line restoration. The reimbursement is made at 90% federal cost-share and authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act.
- $22,385,252.70 to the Jefferson Davis Electric Co-Op Inc for permanent restoration to a damaged 138 kV transmission line. The reimbursement is made at 90% federal cost-share and authorized under Section 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Act.
- $1,245,439.80 to the Calcasieu Parish Voluntary Council on the Aging for building replacement. The reimbursement is made at 90% federal cost-share and authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act.
Much of our official Congressional work to advance recovery projects occurs behind the scenes. Funding finalization and the associated formal announcement of funding are the result of constant efforts over many months with FEMA and state and local stakeholders. All funding will be delivered to the State of Louisiana. The state is responsible for disbursing the funds to each sub-recipient.
A more extensive timeline of Congressman Higgins’ actions on hurricane recovery is available here.
Congressman Higgins issued the following statement:
“The 2020 hurricane season was brutal, with back to back Cat 5 and Cat 4 storms. The fact that our Governor did not allow community shelters prior to and after both storms because of his COVID protocol oppression was clearly bound to make recovery even harder, which indeed was the case,” said Congressman Higgins. “Nonetheless, SW Louisiana is steadily standing back up. Better, stronger, more resilient… and never again to be locked down and shipped out on nightmarish bus-rides to nowhere.”
