Terrebonne Parish Awarded $6.7M to Rebuild Homes Wednesday November 15, 2023 03:15 pm

Terrebonne Parish

Department of Planning and Zoning

Recovery Assistance and Mitigation Planning

FloodSafe Minute

Terrebonne Parish Awarded $6.7M

to Rebuild Homes Damaged by Hurricane Ida

Terrebonne Parish was awarded $6.7M from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to replace homes damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Ida.  The State and FEMA have prioritized this project and have approved approximately 38 structures in the application.  Another 30 structures are still in review for reconstruction along with an elevation project for approximately 14 homeowners.   The applications were submitted in July 2022 and no new requests can be funded through this award. 

Anyone in this first group will be sent a notification of award once the Parish receives the official documentation. The Council and Finance will be presented with the formal approval documentation when it is provided by FEMA and GOHSEP. At that time, meetings will be held to educate homeowners and vendors prior to seeking final engineered plans and getting quotes for construction.  This will be necessary to ensure that the new structures are built flood safe and wind resistant.

Rather than rebuilding to the same standards or even the new standards adopted at the state level, these structures will be built to the Fortified^TM Gold standard that will be more resilient to high winds.  This includes safer roofs and straps from the roof to the foundation.  These techniques have been proven to reduce damages from high winds, and can reduce wind insurance premiums. The Parish is seeking another grant to allow the replacement homes to be built to this higher wind standard.  The structures will be built two (2) feet above the flood requirement for additional protection from flooding and some reduction in flood insurance premiums. 

For more information on the Fortified^TM standards, visit fortifiedhome.org.  To refer interested residents for future funding for a similar program should it become available, call 985-873-6565.  Severe repetitive and repetitive loss property applications are being accepted through December 15^th.