Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fema Reimbursement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
FEMA update: Harahan staff say most Ida project worksheets closed; firehouse rebuild surpasses 50% replacement threshold
Summary
Finance staff told Harahan council that most FEMA project worksheets from Hurricane Ida have closed and reimbursements are expected soon; the firehouse repair/rebuild reached 62% in the city’s submission, a milestone toward replacement eligibility pending further review.
Harahan — At a Dec. 19 City Council meeting Finance Director Todd Turnioin briefed the council on Hurricane Ida recovery and FEMA reimbursement status, saying the city has seen progress on dozens of project worksheets and should receive approved reimbursements in the near term.
"We did receive some positive updates over the last few meetings that there are a large number of the project worksheets that have been completed," Turnioin said. He added that the city still has two large PWs open: one for the firehouse and the other for recreation/gym repairs.
Mayor Baudier and staff noted a key threshold for the firehouse had been crossed: the rebuild percentage for the fire department rose to 62% in the city’s submission to the CRC (the first time it exceeded the 50% replacement threshold), which could make the project eligible for a full replacement evaluation under FEMA rules. Council members clarified that FEMA’s agreement at the preliminary level still requires several channels of review before funds are disbursed.
Turnioin also told the council the city had advanced some funds and that about $1,000,000 in approved PWs had not been reimbursed yet; those amounts, he said, should be processed shortly. Council discussion focused on which costs count toward eligibility and how reimbursements will affect the general fund and outstanding loan obligations.
The council asked staff to continue pressing agencies and to return with updated timelines and documentation of engineering and construction obligations tied to matches so members can track what must be obligated by Dec. 31 to satisfy federal and state requirements.
What’s next
Staff will continue monthly coordination with FEMA and state teams, seek to finalize any outstanding documentation on the firehouse and recreation projects, and report back to the council when reimbursements are received or when additional steps are required to advance replacements or repairs.
