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Council opts in to state temporary housing waiver to speed disaster housing placement
Summary
Council approved an annual opt-in allowing the state to waive local land-use and permitting requirements during disasters so temporary trailers or units can be placed adjacent to damaged homes, filling the gap before FEMA assistance arrives.
The New Iberia City Council voted on Sept. 2 to opt into a state program that preauthorizes waivers for temporary housing and shelter after disasters, enabling the state to place temporary units adjacent to damaged homes without delay.
Brandon Miguez, emergency management director for the parish, told the council the state program fills a response gap that typically appears between immediate local relief and longer-term FEMA temporary-housing assistance. The county's expedited temporary-housing program was used following Hurricane Ida in 2022, Miguez said, and allows the state to provide trailers or similar units next to a damaged residence. The waiver applies to single-family properties and mobile-home sites; it is not intended for apartment complexes.
"This is an annual requirement so every year we have to renew it," Miguez said. Council members said allowing temporary units to remain adjacent to a home can speed recovery because displaced households remain close to their support networks. Council voted to opt in; staff noted the form allows municipalities to opt in or opt out, and the motion accepted opt-in status for the coming year.
