Tag: Louisiana Hurricane Recovery

Terrebonne Parish Advances Recovery with $117 Million in Hurricane Ida Relief

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida and its devastating impact on South Louisiana, Terrebonne Parish was awarded over $117 million in federal relief funds to aid in long-term recovery, as per this article from HoumaToday. This substantial allocation—totaling $117,627,676—came with stipulations: each project had to be formally proposed by the parish and individually approved before any funds could be distributed or spent. Furthermore, all funds must be utilized before the deadline of August 2027.

As of now, 14 out of 28 submitted projects have received the green light. According to Terrebonne Parish Planning and Zoning Director Christopher Polaski, the approval process has moved slower than anticipated, largely due to the high volume of submissions from across Louisiana. He noted that this wasn’t just about Hurricane Ida; previous storms like Laura and Delta have also contributed to the mounting need for recovery initiatives, overwhelming the system that administers these funds.

Among the most ambitious of the approved projects is the development of a small business incubator in downtown Houma. The parish purchased the Whitney Bank building with the intent to convert it into a supportive hub for local entrepreneurs. While the bank continues to rent out the bottom floor, the remainder of the structure will be transformed into incubator space using $1.5 million in recovery funds.

Another major initiative focuses on the restoration of housing and human services offices. The original facility was lost to Ida, and plans are underway to establish a new office under the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program. While the total cost of the project stands at approximately $5 million, about $2 million will come directly from the federal recovery allocation.

To support the region’s vital seafood industry, $3 million has been approved for the second phase of Terrebonne’s seafood aid program. The first phase provided financial assistance for equipment replacement. This next step will fund a comprehensive study to determine the best use of remaining funds, possibly supporting projects like public docks or a cold storage facility equipped with backup power.

Infrastructure repairs and studies make up a significant portion of the approved Hurricane Ida relief projects. A $1.5 million sewage system study will assess both the current infrastructure and the treatment facilities, with the goal of making joint improvements across the system. Parish President Jason Bergeron emphasized that the two components—collection and treatment—must be updated together for any upgrades to be effective.

Another $1.5 million will go toward the replacement of the main 24-inch water line, a critical piece of infrastructure for Terrebonne Parish. Similarly, $3 million has been designated for upgrades along Main Street, aimed at both beautification and traffic calming. This project will align with a road exchange agreement between the parish and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD).

Another environmentally-focused project involves a 4,000-acre stormwater management basin made possible through a land donation by Shell. The basin is designed to hold approximately 1.7 billion gallons of water and will also serve as a space for recreation and wildlife conservation. This project has received $9 million in funding.

On the education and workforce front, Terrebonne Parish is investing in the future with a new aviation program at the Houma-Terrebonne Airport. The parish has already purchased two hangars and is currently recruiting instructors for a program focused on Aviation Maintenance Technician training. This initiative has been granted $5 million.

These approved projects reflect a wide-ranging and multifaceted approach to Terrebonne Parish’s post- Hurricane Ida recovery—spanning infrastructure repair, economic development, environmental stewardship, and cultural revitalization. As the parish continues to submit proposals, more efforts are expected to be funded in the coming months.

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New App Helps Louisiana Residents Locate Disaster Recovery Resources

Louisiana has taken another step in improving emergency preparedness by launching a new mobile app to assist residents in accessing crucial information, particularly during hurricane seasons and other disasters, according to this article from HoumaToday.  The “Get A Game Plan” app was developed by the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP). According to GOHSEP Director Jacques Thibodeaux, the app was designed to help residents going through disaster recovery easily locate distribution centers, referred to as Points of Distribution (PODs), among other resources.

While speaking in Houma last Friday, Thibodeaux expressed his satisfaction with the app and the efficiency it brought to disaster recovery efforts. He mentioned that one of the primary goals of creating the app was to streamline the process of finding nearby distribution sites. “We wanted to make it easier for people to find what they need,” Thibodeaux explained, as he shared his pride in the department’s success with this new tool.

During his demonstration, Thibodeaux showcased how the app worked by navigating through its simple interface. “Go to the ‘Get A Game Plan’ app, and you can see all the POD locations,” he mentioned, comparing it to finding nearby movie theaters. Thibodeaux then demonstrated by pressing just two buttons on his phone, bringing up a list of six distribution centers. With one more tap, he displayed Google Maps directions to the Bayou Blue Fire Department Central Station, a distribution center where water, ice, and meals were available.

However, Thibodeaux noted that the easiest way to download the app was by visiting GOHSEP’s official website, getagameplan.org, rather than searching on the Android store, where unrelated sports apps with similar names would appear. The app offers more than just a way to locate PODs—it serves as an all-encompassing emergency preparedness tool.

The app allows users to access various features aimed at helping Louisiana residents prepare for and recover from hurricanes and other disasters. Thibodeaux explained that one of the key functions of the app is its ability to generate personalized supply lists based on the number of adults, infants, and pets in a household. “You just tell it how many people you’re planning for, and it creates a supply list of everything you’ll need. Pretty dang cool,” Thibodeaux commented as he described the app’s supply list feature.

In addition to the supply list, the app provides several other vital resources, including shopping suggestions, guidance on making emergency plans ahead of time, and essential contact numbers. Thibodeaux noted that users could also access real-time hurricane updates, evacuation orders, and even a price-gouging report tool. The app serves as a central hub for information and preparation tips, aiming to make disaster recovery more manageable for residents across Louisiana.

As per the details available on getagameplan.org, the LA Get A Game Plan App is the official mobile application provided by GOHSEP for Louisiana residents. Its primary purpose is to allow users to prepare for emergencies in advance and provide access to up-to-date information throughout disaster situations. The app is designed to be user-friendly, ensuring that anyone, from tech-savvy individuals to those less familiar with technology, can easily navigate it.

In essence, the “Get A Game Plan” app was designed to simplify disaster preparedness and recovery for Louisiana residents. By offering a wide range of tools, from personalized supply lists to real-time updates, it seeks to provide vital resources at the touch of a button. Thibodeaux and his team at GOHSEP clearly intended for this app to serve as a lifeline for people when they need it most.

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From Devastation to Resilience: Nicholls State University Screens Hurricane Ida Documentary

Nicholls State University recently hosted an exclusive screening of its captivating documentary focusing on Hurricane Ida and the recovery progress titled “Resurgence: From Ida to Recovery.” According to this press release from Nicholls, the highly anticipated event took place on Thursday, May 25, 2023, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., unfolding in the Talbot Hall’s Mary and Al Danos Theater. Attendees were carefully selected through invitation, ensuring an intimate gathering of individuals eager to witness the remarkable film. The evening was not just about the documentary; it featured a coastal expert panel discussion and concluded with a networking reception, graciously sponsored by Entergy.

“Resurgence: From Ida to Recovery” provides a compelling narrative that chronicles the journey of Hurricane Ida through the eyes of those residing in Lafourche, Terrebonne, and Grand Isle. The documentary paints a vivid picture, offering a glimpse into the experiences of residents, government officials, community leaders, and meteorologists who weathered the storm’s fury. Nicholls State University took the helm in producing this extraordinary film, thanks to a generous grant from the Bayou Community Foundation’s Bayou Recovery Fund for Hurricane Ida Relief.

As the fifth-largest storm ever to strike the United States, Hurricane Ida made landfall on the 16th anniversary of the infamous Hurricane Katrina. With maximum wind speeds reaching a staggering 150 mph, this Category 4 hurricane unleashed devastating winds and a destructive storm surge upon Louisiana’s vulnerable coastal regions. In fact, Ida holds the unfortunate distinction of being the second most-damaging hurricane to hit Louisiana since the catastrophic events of Katrina in 2005.

One cannot discuss the aftermath of Hurricane Ida without addressing the long-standing issue of coastal erosion. Over the years, the Barataria-Terrebonne basins have suffered the loss of approximately 600,000 acres of land. To put this into perspective, Louisiana loses an area equivalent to a football field of coastal islands and wetlands every 100 minutes. The state has experienced the highest rate of wetlands loss in the country, with a startling 80% accounting for the nation’s coastal wetland loss. More than 2,000 square miles, an area roughly the size of Delaware, has succumbed to the encroaching waters, transforming into open water.

In response to this pressing environmental crisis, Nicholls State University is taking proactive measures to preserve and protect the coastline from future storms. The university’s forthcoming Coastal Center, with construction slated to commence in the fall of 2023, represents a significant stride toward combating coastal erosion. The ambitious $21 million project will find its home on the Nicholls campus, precisely situated at the corner of Colonel Drive and Ardoyne Drive, directly across from Calecas Hall.

The Coastal Center will serve as a collaborative space, bringing together scientists from various institutions, including the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, the Water Institute of the Gulf, and Nicholls’ esteemed biological sciences and geomatics departments. This collective effort aims to advance research endeavors that will help repair and rebuild Louisiana’s receding coastline. The impact of this interdisciplinary collaboration cannot be overstated, as it signifies a united front against the challenges posed by coastal erosion.

In addition to its research initiatives, the Coastal Center at Nicholls State University will actively partner with the Bayou Region Incubator to foster the creation of jobs and small businesses that cater specifically to the coastal community. The expansive 227-acre Nicholls Farm will serve as a real-world testing ground for the center’s coastal research, providing practical applications and invaluable insights.

The documentary screening and subsequent discussions at the event shed light on the challenges faced by coastal communities and the urgent need for proactive measures to address the issue of coastal erosion. Nicholls State University’s commitment to research, innovation, and collaboration is commendable, and its efforts through the Coastal Center are poised to make a tangible difference in the restoration and preservation of Louisiana’s coastline.

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