LMR September 2020

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“Laura was like nothing I’ve ever seen. The massivesustained winds and blinding rains devastated ourhomes and businesses. We estimate that about 10-15%of our residents’ homes have been damaged beyondrepair and will have to be demolished. We were able tostart debris management early, but we would not havemade the progress that we have without the incredibleoutpouring of support from our neighbors in Texas andour fellow Louisianans. I cannot sufficiently express howdeeply grateful I am to the mayors and council memberswho have provided not only food and supplies, but alsokind words of encouragement that we sorely needed inthe wake of this disaster. They have my heartfelt thanks.”people living in close quarters.• Know what to do if someone in your family or in thehousehold you are staying with becomes sick withCOVID-19.Response and Recovery After A HurricaneThe loss of basic infrastructure resources like safe drinkingwater and electricity are always huge impacts after a disasterevent but COVID 19 makes it certain that restoration will takelonger than usual. Since restoration will take longer than followinga typical disaster the stress on residents will be muchgreater than normal.The use of personal generators is common to provide limitedsurvival capability to run a refrigerator, cooktop, or smallair conditioning unit. But, generators produce dangerousexhaust and risk of electrocution by back-powering electricallines that may be exposed. Several deaths occurred followingHurricane Laura due to carbon monoxide poisoning fromgenerators being run inside homes or not properly ventilated.Virtual Preliminary Damage Assessments- Mayor Kenny Stinson, VintonThe severe limitations on responders, damage inspectors andrecovery officials being able to enter and operate in a disasterarea due to COVID 19 has led FEMA to consider new methods"The City of Westlake took a hard hit from HurricaneLaura. Our City Hall building lost several walls. Ninetypercent of homes here suffered some kind of damage,and 40% of homes are uninhabitable. I am proud thatthrough all of this, our Public Works Department kept ourwater and sewer services going. Our Police Departmentand Fire Department have done a great job to keepthings as safe as possible for our citizens. Together, wewill get through this."- Mayor Bob Hardey, Westlakeof conducting damage assessments. FEMA regions may electto utilize virtual or desktop Preliminary Damage Assessment(PDA) capability. Virtual PDAs may include use of aerialimagery, HAZUS software modeling, or applicant submitteddata, documentation, and photos. Such information submission,if authorized, is certified by local officials or emergencymanagers with detailed and verified statements to documentdamages as accurately as possible.Such virtual assessments have limitations and may be backedup with onsite validation. But, the reduced risk to inspectionteams, as opposed to conducting physical, in-person assessmentsof cost, work, facility, and applicant eligibility maymake this option the preferred choice. If FEMA personnel dodeploy to the field, the plan will be to use as few personnel aspossible.Individual and Households Programs and Direct HousingFEMA does notanticipate majorchanges in programeligibility, timelinessof grant awards, orthe level of assistanceprovidedunder the Individualand HouseholdsProgram. However,the deliverymechanisms ofcertain aspects ofthe program will bemodified. FEMA will utilize remote inspections and field workto evaluate damage as much as possible, with the goal ofexpediting the delivery of recovery assistance.FEMA will only conduct remote inspections on homes whereoccupants have indicated a higher degree of damage whenthey registered for assistance. For applicants who self-reportminor damage and can remain in the home, FEMA will determinewhether an inspection is necessary, enabling FEMA tofocus its limited resources on those with the greatest need.These remote inspections and field work, consistent witheligibility, will support numerous programs including RentalAssistance, Home Repair Assistance, Replacement Assistance,Other Needs Assistance for Personal Property, and Assistancefor Miscellaneous Items. Types of Other Needs Assistance thatdo not require an inspection, including childcare, transportation,medical and dental, funeral expenses, moving andstorage, and procurement of Group Flood Insurance Policies,will be administered as normal.Direct Housing“We are resilient people in Sulphur,with the tendency to put our ownissues aside to work with eachother to rebuild. It is a difficulttime, but a hopeful time to seethe little miracles that take placeevery day with all the help fromour city workers, first responders,relief groups, and residents. Day byday things are getting better in ourcommunity.”- Mayor Mike Danahay, SulphurFEMA does not anticipate changing the criteria necessary forapproving a request for Direct Housing. However, given thePage 22LMR | SEPTEMBER 2020
Feature“So many have lost so much. Theneeds are great. We’re doing ourbest to meet them and we’re sograteful for those who have traveledfrom near and far to help us. It’sheartbreaking, but we’re not hopeless.We wake up to new progressevery day. DeRidder will be back.We’ll be stronger and more resilient.”- Mayor Misty Clanton, DeRidderchallenges associatedwith implementingsome forms ofDirect Housing in aCOVID19 environment,FEMA mayrely more on certainforms of temporaryhousing (i.e., rentalassistance) andnon-congregatesheltering.For new disasters that are approved for Direct Housing, FEMAwill prioritize the placement of Transportable TemporaryHousing Units on private sites and the use of Direct Lease.As for any other disaster, the limitations on use of temporaryhousing in coastal zones subject to storm surge and floodingwill be significantly limited.Public AssistanceLike Hurricane Laura, any disaster that occurs during theCOVID 19 Presidentially Declared Disaster will challenge municipalofficials with record keeping and documentation. Alleligible and reimbursable costs must be tracked and reportedseparately to FEMA. We faced the same problem in the pastwhen Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike struck manyof the same communities and created similar damages. Theaccounting difficulty can be described as challenging but isessential. FEMAtracks, reimburses,and audits the costsand eligible reimbursableprojectsas independentevents. It is theapplicant’s responsibilityto accomplishthe reportingand reimbursementrequest process.The basic principles,application procedures,eligibility,“I don't want Americans to forgetabout the need here in LakeCharles. One of the greatest Americancities, Lake Charles, was hit withthe strongest hurricane to hit thestate of Louisiana in 150 years. Weare resilient, we are strong, we’regoing to help our brothers and sisters,but we also need our Americanbrothers and sisters to rememberus and we’re going to need yourhelp. This is truly going to be aherculean effort.”- Mayor Nic Hunter, Lake CharlesGalene Means WaterGalene Means Water• Corrosion Resistant PackageWater/ Wastewater Plants• Plug and Play Filtration Skids• High Efficiency RO Trains• Self-Cleaning Screens• Glass Fused Steel TanksLower costs,faster installation and easy maintenance!www.galenewt.com 844-942-5363LMR | SEPTEMBER 2020 Page 23
Page 1 and 2: Louisiana Municipal ReviewPUBLISHED
Page 3 and 4: Inside the LMADirector’s Viewpoin
Page 5 and 6: Inside the LMAHUD Announces Disaste
Page 7 and 8: Inside the LMALegal BriefsSO, WHERE
Page 9 and 10: MunicipalitiesLMA’s Strong Congre
Page 11 and 12: Municipalitiesflowing again by open
Page 13 and 14: A Word fromOur AffiliatesJennifer V
Page 15 and 16: Partner InsightRural DevelopmentUSD
Page 17 and 18: Damage Assessment is Critical to Re
Page 19 and 20: FeatureBossier: 1Ouachita: 2Tensas:
Page 21: FeatureALWAYS ONFOR YOU.JOHN M. SCH

LMR September 2020

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