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Parish allocates about $1.35M for Hurricane Francine debris removal; staff outlines eligible areas and debris types
Summary
Terrebonne Parish committees approved a budget amendment that includes roughly $1.35 million for drainage debris removal related to Hurricane Francine; staff said the work targets immovable debris identified by drone footage in specific bayous and that the parish submitted required project lists quickly to secure FEMA/NRCS funding.
The Budget and Finance committee approved a budget amendment that included $1,351,334 to remove hurricane‑related drainage debris identified after Hurricane Francine. Committee members were told the parish submitted specific debris location lists quickly after the storm, using drone footage and crews to document immovable obstructions.
Parish staff explained that the funding is targeted to specific locations identified in the application and that the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has allowed the parish to measure some work by linear feet. Staff said the debris funding covers immovable storm‑related obstructions such as trees and other impediments to drainage rather than general trash or surface litter.
A council member asked whether the work was limited to the exact locations submitted for Francine; staff said the parish identified specific points and that the faster and more accurately those locations were submitted the faster approval came. Staff added that they have some flexibility to continue cleanup along linear stretches if necessary, but that work must be identified as hurricane‑related.
The meeting record shows the parish will provide a local match drawn from the drainage tax fund; staff indicated approximately $314,000 will come from that fund as a local match. Committee discussion also referenced coordination with the Corps of Engineers and the Delta Regional Authority on broader water and sewer funding opportunities.
The committee approved the amendment and called a public hearing as part of the consolidated budget item; the vote on the package of budget amendments was recorded as 9–0.
What comes next: staff will begin contracted debris removal at approved locations, update the project portal/dashboard and continue coordination with federal partners on potential dredging and additional funding sources.
