LMR September 2020

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President’s MessageNEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORSBY MAYOR JIMMY WILLIAMS, TOWN OF SIBLEYOur state is hurting and like Louisiananshave demonstrated time and timeagain, when life gives us lemons, wehave a seafood boil. Just like in thegood times when neighbors cometogether around a table spread with crawfish, corn andpotatoes - when times are bad, neighbors come together tohelp each other. Whether it’s clearing a downed tree, servinghot meals, delivering supplies, or comforting a family whohas lost everything, we find a way to stick together. HurricaneLaura delivered a devastating blow, but we will fightour way back and with everyone pitching in, we can comeback stronger.I believe two of the most valuable things I can offer at thistime are my prayers to all affected and information to helpus rebound quickly. The staff at LMA has compiled many ofthe resources and information that is critical to the recoveryof our citizens. Please share the following information as wecontinue to pray for one another, especially for those whohave lost loved ones and their homes during this tragic time.FEMA Hurricane Laura Assistance AvailableAs of September 15, FEMA has approved 21 Louisiana parishesfor Individual Assistance following Hurricane Laura.Federal FEMA assistance can include grants for temporaryhousing and home repairs, low-cost loans for uninsuredproperty loss and other programs to help people and businessesrecover fromHurricane Laura.People who sustainedlosses inHurricane Laurain the designatedparishes of Acadia,Allen, Beauregard,Caddo, Calcasieu,Cameron, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, LaSalle, Lincoln,Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Sabine, St.Landry Vermilion, Vernon, Winn and Union can begin applyingfor assistance today by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speechimpaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until furthernotice.• To apply for an SBA loan, visit https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/s/.SBA has also opened a VirtualBusiness Recovery and Virtual Disaster Loan OutreachCenter, which can be reached at FOCWAssistance@sba.gov or via phone at 1-800-659-2955 from 8:00 AM -8:00 PM.• Pre-register for the Disaster Supplemental NutritionAssistance Program (DSNAP) here: http://www.dcfs.louisiana.gov/page/360.FEMA Denials:• Individuals with homeowner’s insurance who havebeen denied by FEMA will need to submit further documentationfrom your insurance provider regardingdeductible amounts and the level of coverage that youare receiving. FEMA is working to update their onlinesystems to more accurately reflect this status.Emergency Shelter:• Residents in need of emergency shelter should textLASHELTER to 898-211 for information on where togo or call 211.• Find information about emergency shelters in thesurrounding region at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/information/immediate-needs/emergency-shelter.Operation Blue Roof:Operation Blue Roof has been approved and is setting upoperations in Southwest Louisiana. The program, which is ajoint effort through the Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA,provides the installation of temporary roofing protection forresidential properties, at no cost to homeowners. OperationBlue Roof provides critical assistance for those who eithercan’t afford or are physically unable to install tarps. Homeownersmust sign a Right-of-Entry request allowing accessto their property to perform an assessment, and if warranted,install a temporary roof.• To register, call 1-888-ROOF-BLU (1-888-766-3258) or sign up at https://blue-roof-online-signup-usace.hub.arcgis.com/.• Learn more about the program at https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Emergency-Operations/National-Response-Framework/Temporary-Roofing/.Utility Outages:Utility providers are working around the clock to restorepower services and repair damaged infrastructure. To trackcurrent outages, visit https://lpsc.louisiana.gov/Outages/Map/nrs.Page 4LMR | SEPTEMBER 2020
Inside the LMAHUD Announces Disaster Assistance for Victims ofHurricane LauraForeclosure protection offered to displaced familiesThe U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD) has announced federal disaster assistance for theState of Louisiana to provide support to homeowners andlow-income renters displaced from theirhomes in areas affected by HurricaneLaura.The President’s declaration allows HUDto offer foreclosure relief and otherassistance to impacted families living inthese counties. HUD is:• Providing immediate foreclosurerelief – HUD’s automatic 90-day moratorium on foreclosuresof Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insuredhome mortgages commenced for the Louisianacounties covered under the Presidential declaration onthe date of the declaration. For assistance, call your loanservicer or FHA’s Resource Center at 1-800-CALL FHA(1-800-225-5342);• Making mortgage insurance available – HUD’s Section203(h) program provides FHA insurance to disastervictims whose homes were destroyed or damaged tosuch an extent that reconstruction or replacement isnecessary and are facing the daunting task of rebuildingor buying another home. Section 203(h) borrowersare eligible for 100 percent financing, including closingcosts;• Making insurance available for both mortgages andhome rehabilitation – HUD’s Section 203(k) loanprogram enables those who have lost their homes tofinance the purchase or refinance of a house alongwith its repair through a single mortgage. It also allowshomeowners who have damaged houses to finance therehabilitation of their existing single-family home. For alist of lenders in your area, call FHA’s Resource Center at1-800-CALL FHA (1-800-225-5342); and• Making information on housing providers and HUDprograms available – The Department will share informationwith the Federal Emergency ManagementAgency (FEMA) and the State on housing providers thatmay have available units in the impacted counties. Thisincludes Public Housing Agencies and Multi-Familyowners. The Department will also connect FEMA andthe State to subject matter experts to provide informationon HUD programs and providers.• Read about these and other HUD programs designedto assist disaster victims at https://www.hud.gov/info/disasterresources.Disaster Records Recovery Information from LouisianaSecretary of State’s OfficeAs Louisianans across our state deal with the aftermath ofHurricane Laura, please be assured that staff at the LouisianaState Archives, Secretary of State KyleArdoin’s Office is here to assist withrecords disaster recovery advice andresources. Local, parish, and stateemployees affected by the storm willhave the challenges of both personaland professional recovery measures.Recovery and remediation, when possible,of records and artifacts of theState of Louisiana is vital to the preservation of our history.Information about disaster recovery can be found on theSecretary of State’s website at sos.la.gov.State and local agencies in Louisiana are required to reportdamage to public records to the Secretary of State’s Officeunder Louisiana R.S. 44:411 and 44:423. This includes alldamage to paper or electronic records from minor damageto total loss. To report damaged records, please fill out the RecordsDamage Assessment Worksheet and send the completedform to disasters@sos.la.gov.If you have any questions about records recovery and preservation,you can contact the Louisiana State Archives’ disastersteam at 225-922-1218 or by emailing disasters@sos.la.gov.We are happy to do whatever we can to assist our colleaguesfacing these difficult times.Waiving/Reducing Water BillsNormally, Article VII, Section 14 of the Louisiana Constitutionwould prohibit a municipality from reducing or waivinga high water bills caused by a leak on the customer’s sideof the meter. In mostcircumstances, themunicipality may onlyoffer a payment planto the customer andeven then, may haveto charge interest ifthe payment period isprolonged. However,the Attorney General’sOffice has opined that when the damage to the customer’sside of the line is caused by a natural disaster, a public bodyMAY waive or reduce the bill. It is strongly suggested that ifa municipality opts to reduce or waive such excessive utilitybills, that they develop guidelines for when and how theywill do so in advance. Such waivers and reductions should beequitably and consistently applied.LMR | SEPTEMBER 2020 Page 5
Page 1 and 2: Louisiana Municipal ReviewPUBLISHED
Page 3: Inside the LMADirector’s Viewpoin
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 and 22: FeatureALWAYS ONFOR YOU.JOHN M. SCH
Page 23 and 24: Feature“So many have lost so much

LMR September 2020

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