Senator John Kennedy (R-La.), who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that Louisiana will receive nearly $480 million in disaster relief grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The funding is designated for restoration and hazard mitigation efforts related to Hurricanes Isaac, Laura, Zeta, Ida, Francine, as well as costs linked to saltwater intrusion and other storms and flooding.
“Louisianians are tough as a three-dollar steak, and we always pull together and rebuild. This $479.8 million will help communities across our state recover from storms, hurricanes, and other disasters by supporting critical repairs, debris removal, emergency response, and key infrastructure projects,” said Kennedy.
The largest portion of the funds—$292.1 million—is allocated for Hurricane Ida recovery. Projects include replacing a damaged 41-mile water line in Jefferson Parish; repairing power lines serving Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center in Houma; permanent repairs to transmission systems between West Houma and Matherne; debris removal along Bayou Barataria’s waterways; repairs at LaCache Middle School in Chauvin; restoration of electrical infrastructure; flood mitigation at Bubba Dove Floodgate in Houma Navigation Canal; capital asset financing for school repairs; work at Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville; replacement of Little Caillou Gym in Chauvin; housing authority building repairs in St. James Parish; electrical system repairs for Washington–St. Tammany Electric Cooperative; replacement of Rose Thorne Gymnasium in Lafitte; loan interest payments for electric distribution system repair by Dixie Electric Membership Corporation (DEMCO); facility replacements for Terrebonne Parish District Attorney’s Office; restoration of South Shore Harbor Marina with flood mitigation measures by Orleans Levee District Non-Flood Protection Asset Management Authority; purchase of oxygen for wastewater treatment by New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board; recreational park repairs in Mandeville; facility repair at Vandebilt Catholic High School in Terrebonne Parish following hazard mitigation efforts by the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux; police dispatch center repair by Terrebonne Parish District Attorney’s Office; ROTC building repair at South Lafourche High School in Cut Off by Lafourche Parish School Board; emergency protective measures at Thibodaux Regional Health System including supplies and generator rental/repair for emergency room workers.
Additional grants cover damage to elementary schools in Jefferson Parish Public School System—including Ray St. Pierre Academy for Advanced Studies (Westwego), Harahan Elementary School, Lionel Collins Elementary School (Marrero)—and medical equipment replacement at Lafourche Parish Hospital Service District #1.
For Hurricane Laura ($89.8 million), funding includes generators for Jefferson Davis Electric Cooperative facilities across two parishes, hospital rebuilding support in Cameron Parish, road/bridge restoration within Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge/Game Preserve managed by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ Office of Risk Management, electrical system repairs throughout affected parishes including Lake Charles Harbor & Terminal District ship loader equipment restoration.
Hurricane Zeta assistance totals $75.7 million focused on barrier headland restoration projects led by the Office of Risk Management.
Hurricane Francine-related aid amounts to $17.7 million distributed among DEMCO’s power facility repairs spanning seven parishes, levee segment restorations near Montegut managed by Terrebonne Levee & Conservation Districts with additional support directed toward city wastewater infrastructure improvements and school campus remediation services provided through the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.
Aid also addresses earlier events: $2.3 million goes to Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals for Hurricane Isaac emergency sheltering/mobilization services while about $1.1 million each supports saltwater intrusion management costs (Jefferson Parish) and permanent storm/flooding site repairs at Poverty Point Historical Site via the Office of Risk Management.
Senator Kennedy represents Louisiana statewide through his offices located across Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Monroe, New Orleans and Shreveport as well as Washington D.C., offering constituent support on federal matters (official website). He leads initiatives related to veterans’ affairs, small business development and national security while engaging residents through public events (official website). His committee roles include chairing Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs alongside membership on Appropriations—which oversees federal spending decisions such as these FEMA grants—Budget and Energy & Natural Resources committees (official website).
