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A Look Back at 30 Years of Mitigation

Tuesday April 17, 2018 08:42 am

A Look Back at 30 Years of Mitigation

Helping Communities Rebuild Stronger

This year marks the 30-year anniversary since the Robert T. Stafford Act was amended to include funding for hazard mitigation grants as a way to help communities recover and rebuild after a Presidentially-declared disaster. In the last three decades, FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs have expanded to three mitigation grant programs for pre-and post-disaster events and recently surpassed $15 billion in funding provided for state, local, tribal and territorial mitigation projects. Communities across the nation are now more resilient, and that growth continues.

Terrebonne Parish has been awarded FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant and Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant funding for 38 projects worth $94 million, of which $78 million is federal funding.  The Parish has expended these funds on elevations, pump stations, dredging, home acquisitions, demolitions, and a host of other flood and wind risk reduction projects.  Immediately after eight (8) disasters, FEMA provided Public Assistance totaling $50 million providing 90% of the reported expenses in the Parish for Debris Removal, Emergency Protective Measures, Roads & Bridges, Drainage, Pollution Control, Buildings & Equipment, Utilities, and Parks.  The Parish has also been awarded $135 million through the Office of Community Development from HUD that has paid for levees, raised roads, demolitions, low income housing and infrastructure and housing improvements.

FEMA and the State have been, and will continue to be valuable partners, and will continue to assist the Parish in reducing risk and protecting lives, our culture, and property values.  Terrebonne Parish has raised over $50 million of local funding to invest in our protection as well and will continue to seek out any and all avenues to fund our safety and way of life.

View a detailed timeline showcasing defining events and advancements in the history of FEMA’s mitigation assistance program and watch Hazard Mitigation Assistance Branch Chiefs Karen Helbrecht, Michael Hillenburg and Anna Pudlo share their reflections on the value and benefits of mitigation: