“This money will go far to help clean up and rebuild our city,” Jefferson said. “We have all talked about and waited for the funds to remove the cars and other debris from our city.  I trust that this money will contribute to the quick removal of cars and proper restoration of our drainage facilities.”

FEMA awarded the City of New Orleans $10.3 million to collect, relocate and store the more than 25,000 vehicles, 200 trailers and 800 boats abandoned in the city.  The City will receive an additional $2.3 million to clean out 3,000 catch basins, replace over 266,000 linear feet of broken storm drain pipe, and perform related debris removal and disposal.  The LA Facility Planning and Control office received two grants, each for $1.7 million, to rebuild SUNO’s cafeteria and Old Science buildings to pre-Katrina conditions.  SUNO has been operating on a FEMA trailer campus since Katrina destroyed its Pontchartrain Park campus.

“My office has worked closely with FEMA and SUNO to make sure that the university’s recovery needs were met and I look forward to work starting on their campus as well,” Jefferson said. “As a university serving non-traditional, commuter students, SUNO serves an important need in our community.  These funds should make a huge impact on our community’s ability provide educational access to these students.”    

FEMA will obligate the money to the State of Louisiana, who will ultimately distribute the funds to the awardees.  The money will be reimbursed to the City and LA Facility Planning and Control pending the State’s review of the request and the submission of appropriate documents.