Cassidy reintroducing bill to create NTSB-like board for studying natural disasters
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., is joining U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, in reintroducing bipartisan legislation that would create a permanent independent board to investigate the underlying causes of disaster-related fatalities and property damage nationwide and make policy recommendations to improve disaster resiliency.
The bill, known as the Disaster Learning and Life Saving Act, died when it was first brought before Congress last October. But in light of recent flooding events, Cassidy, who recently visited Cameron and Calcasieu parishes, says it’s time to again push for the proposed Natural Disaster Safety Board, which would study the disasters and recommend policy changes.
May 27, 2021
Gov. John Bel Edwards is announcing $61.6 million in federal funding for 16 flood risk reduction projects throughout the state as part of the Watershed Projects Grant Program: Local and Regional â Round 1. The Round 1 funding opportunity is part of the stateâs Action Plan to spend $1.2 billion in federal Community Development Block Grant Mitigation funds.
âLast week, heavy rains once again inundated flood-weary communities throughout Louisiana, underscoring our stateâs increasing flood risk and urgent need for better flood risk reduction. Today, Iâm heartened to announce relief is on the way,â Gov. Edwards said. âThrough the Louisiana Watershed Initiative, we are working to fight flooding on a large scale with immediate and long-term solutions. These projects move us in the right direction.â
Flood mitigation projects in Lafayette, Alexandria and Church Point won a combined $19.6 million from Louisiana’s Watershed Initiative, which announced $61.6 million for projects statewide Thursday.
The funds announced Thursday are some of the first dollars to be earmarked from LWI’s $1.2 billion cache of federal funds that were given to the state in response to the widespread damage caused by the 2016 floods.
Four projects in Acadiana’s watershed area, which is bounded by the Red River to the north, the Mermentau River to the west, the Mississippi River to the east and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, were approved for part of the $61.6 million in round one funding announced by the LWI Thursday.
FEMA to award more than $6M in grants for Lafayette Parish flooding mitigation
MGN Online
and last updated 2021-05-25 13:51:41-04
FEMA will award two grants for flood mitigation in Lafayette Parish totaling more than $6 million.
According to Congressman Clay Higgins, the two FEMA grants total $6,219,955 for flood mitigation efforts in Lafayette Parish.
The hazard mitigation grants include:
$3,420,195 to fund the elevation of seven structures and the acquisition of seven structures, which are all designated as Severe Repetitive Loss properties.
$2,799,760 to fund the elevation of five structures and the acquisition of eight structures, which are designated as either Repetitive Loss or Severe Repetitive Loss properties.