As tens of thousands of residents in southern Louisiana shift from response to recovering from the recent historic flooding, Gov. John Bel Edwards asked for patience as government officials do their part in assisting them.
“Our primary goal right now is getting people back to their homes, back to their communities,” Edwards told a sold out crowd at the 11th annual Legis-Gator luncheon, hosted by the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. “(But) this doesn’t happen overnight. We have a long way to go.”
Edwards spoke of the three new housing assistance programs announced this week. The one officials are pushing the most is the Shelter At Home Program, which seeks to invest money in residents’ permanent homes. It would cover the cost of work like removing carpet and insulation; repairing air conditioning and hot water heaters; and inspecting electrical and plumbing lines. The program, he said, will be open to the public Monday.
“If we can go into somebody’s home and, with $15,000, make it secure, habitable and safe, then that’s what we are going to do,” Edwards said.
It’s the first time the program is being rolled out in Louisiana. Other states, like New York and New Jersey, used a similar program after Hurricane Sandy’s landfall in 2012, but that effort was criticized by some because of a lack of good-quality repair work.
Edwards said the state will work to make sure the program uses “our contractors (and) laborers.”
Another program will provide temporary manufactured homes, including mobile homes approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The third is a Multi-Family Lease and Repair Program that seeks to find available rental properties for displaced families.
Edwards also spoke of the record flooding in March that occurred “in every corner of the state.” While residents affected by both floods are going through difficult times, he assured them that officials will work to help them recover.
“We know we are going to do everything we can to make them have a better life as soon as possible,” Edwards said.
He spent time touring Lake Arthur on Thursday, visiting with residents and officials and praising them for using measures to prevent additional flooding from the Mermentau River.
During the flooding, Edwards said nine weather stations around the state recorded more than 21 inches of rainfall in less than 48 hours. Flood gauges stopped reporting because they were washed away.
The flooding claimed 13 lives. Edwards said the death toll could have been higher if not for residents quickly responding to rescue more than 30,000 people who were in danger.
“We saw people being neighbors to one another, not just neighbors to people who happen to live next to them ... but neighbors to strangers,” he said.
When describing how Louisiana residents responded to the flooding, Edwards said the one word that came to mind was “resilient.”
“Let me tell you what makes the state of Louisiana great; it’s the people,” he said.
Edwards also praised the working relationship the state has had with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other agencies in the wake of the flooding. He said he has asked the federal government to reduce the state match from 25 percent to 10 percent and include the March flooding when seeking relief.
The flooding has damaged 125,000 homes, with less than 20 percent of homeowners having flood insurance. While FEMA is not an insurance program, Edwards said he is meeting Monday with federal lawmakers to “fashion a program that doesn’t currently exist” to help residents.
“The worst thing we can have is people walking away from their businesses (and) homes,” he said. “We’re going to have to think outside the box.”
Edwards said there are plans to use hazard mitigation funding to pay for drainage projects instead of elevating homes.
Awards
Senate President John Alario, R-Westwego, received the Legis-Gator of the Year award. His career as a state lawmaker dates back to 1972.
Freshman Rep. Stephen Dwight, R-Moss Bluff, received the Fusion Five award. Sen. Ronnie Johns, R-Sulphur, received the Governmental Affairs award.
The event was held at L’Auberge Casino Resort.
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